Ivan S. Tkachenko
Samara University
Russia
Title: The evolvement of the university orbital constellation of small satellites series
Biography
Biography: Ivan S. Tkachenko
Abstract
Launched on orbit in 2013 satellite constellation, consisting of two small spacecraft "AIST" is the result of joint work of students, postgraduates and young scientists of the Samara University and young professionals of Space Rocket Center "Progress" (Samara, Russia). Nowadays the satellites control, receiving and processing telemetry and scientific information are provided by young specialists of the university center for receiving and processing information. During three years of orbital working the unique information about the magnetic field of the Earth and micrometeorite situation on two different orbits in which satellites operate were received. In addition, experience in the design, creation and operation of these satellites allows to significantly upgrade the educational process in Samara University.
28 April 2016 during the first launch from Vostochny Cosmodrome the new satellite of “AIST” constellation – “Aist-2D” was launched. The primary goal of “Aist-2D” is remote sensing with high resolution - from an orbital altitude of 490 km it provides resolution of 1.48 m in panchromatic mode and 4.5 m in multispectral mode in a 39.6 km-width band.
The IR-range thermal equipment of “Aist-2D” which was the first to use microbolometric photo detectors without cooling, will not only produce night photographs, but also develop the technology for small fire foci detection.
The special-purpose equipment includes an innovative radar set developed for passive Earth location in a new R-range of frequencies (432-438 MHz). The scientists plan to use it for possible space observation not only of visible surfaces, but also subsurfaces.
The satellite holds six sets of scientific equipment created by scientists, students and post-graduate students of the Samara University.
The article gives the first results of “AIST-2D” functioning and an analysis of space images and data from scientific equipment received from the satellite. Some variants of constellation evolvement are discussed also in the report.