Nanosatellite SamSat-218, which was launched into orbit in the first launch from the Vostochny cosmodrome, not contacted, reported TASS a source in the space industry. According to the interlocutor of the Agency, the unit could not be included when entering the orbit.
Nanosatellite SamSat-218 was designed by students and staff of the Samara state aerospace University (SSAU) in the framework of a joint project with rocket and space centre “Progress”. Along with SamSat-218 from the East were launched two more spacecraft.
As the source said to TASS on Wednesday held a joint meeting of representatives of SSAU and “Progress”, which will discuss the question of the continuation of attempts to establish communication with the satellite or the recognition of its lost.
Nanosatellite SamSat-218 is part of the complex of scientific equipment “Contact” created by SSAU scientists and engineers of JSC “RCC “Progress”. The second part of the complex “Contact” posted on Board small spacecraft “AIST-2D”. The tasks includes development of the technology of control of small spacecraft. The mass of the satellite SamSat-218 is 1.4 kg.
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The first launch from the East took place on the morning of 28 April. From Baikonur started the carrier rocket “Soyuz-2.1 a”. On the same day, “Interfax” with reference to data of Roscosmos reported that with all three devices that were launched into orbit, a connection is established.
In addition SamSat-218 were launched from the Eastern scientific SPACECRAFT (SC) “Lomonosov”, established by order of the Moscow state University. M. V. Lomonosov, JSC “Corporation “VNIIEM”. It is designed to conduct scientific experiments to study transient light phenomena in the radiative characteristics of the earth’s magnetosphere and the fundamental cosmological studies. On Board the spacecraft have also installed the instruments to study the cosmic gamma-ray bursts and the Earth’s magnetosphere.
The orbit was also derived satellite remote sensing AIST-2D”. According to the developer, with the weight only in 531 kg AIST-2D” has a completely new lens that when shooting the earth’s surface can provide a resolution of 1.5 m with a swath of nearly 40 km.
Initially start was scheduled for the morning of April 27, however, automation has allowed to rebound for a few minutes before the start. Watching the first launch from the East in the Amur region there has arrived President Vladimir Putin. As it turned out, problems arose with one of the cables, made NPO Avtomatiki.
After a failed first start, Putin made reprimands Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Roscosmos Igor Komarov. The head of NPO Avtomatiki, Leonid Shalimov was issued about incomplete official compliance.
