MEPhI has begun work on the creation of a new Svarog-1 space satellite. The main purpose of the new spacecraft is to study gamma-ray bursts and practice orbital maneuvers.
Svarog-1 will belong to the class of 3U cubesats, that is, small artificial satellites whose dimensions are 10×10×30 cm. The device will be based on the OrbiCraft-Pro satellite platform from the Russian private space company Sputnix. Svarog will be equipped with two devices developed at MEPhI at once – the NATALIA gamma-ray spectrometer, developed by the Department of Experimental Nuclear Physics and Cosmophysics, as well as a dry liquid vapor engine created by the Laboratory of Plasma Rocket Engines at the Institute of Laser and Plasma Technologies at MEPhI.
After successful in-orbit testing it is planned to commercialize these devices and the scientific data obtained from the satellite, which will be carried out by the innovative STAR company (Satellite Technologies and Astrodevelopment) created at MEPhI.
"The modified satellite platform of the future satellite with gallium arsenide solar panels for increased energy of the device and an X-transmitter for fast communication with the Mission Control Center has already been accepted," says Evgeny Stepin, head of the MEPhI Space Research and Technology Center. "The next step is the integration of the payload onto the platform, which will be done next year!"
According to Evgeny Stepin, the creation of such a spacecraft and its payload requires the combined efforts of several scientific groups, departments and institutes of MEPhI, which is made possible by the organizational and coordination activities of the Center for Space Research and Technology.
The work on the creation of the satellite is funded by a grant from the Foundation for the Promotion of Innovation. The received grant is being implemented as part of the Space-Pi educational project "Planet Duty", and schoolchildren and students who want to connect their future with astronautics will be involved in it, and the interesting scientific task of the satellite will expand the reach of such motivated children!
