Russian space enthusiasts raise $7,000 for a satellite

Enthusiasts have raised about $7000 via crowdfunding and created a model of the satellite. Source: Press photo

Enthusiasts have raised about $7000 via crowdfunding and created a model of the satellite. Source: Press photo

Enthusiasts have come up with a way to get people to raise their head up again and think about the stars. They are building Russia's first amateur mini-satellite with the money raised through crowdfunding.

“During one of the lectures on astronautics, a student came up and asked me if it was possible to send a brick into space. I told him “yes, but isn’t it better to send something more significant?” says Alexander Shayenko, head of the Modern Cosmonautics educational program at the Moscow State Engineering University (MAMI). This is how the construction of Russia's first amateur satellite Mayak (Lighthouse) began in the autumn of 2014.

The project involves four students and one postgraduate of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University (MSTU), four engineers and one PR specialist. To date, they have raised about $7000 via crowdfunding and created a model of the satellite.

The Mayak founders during presentation of the project. Source: Press photo

The enthusiasts plan to build a real satellite on its basis and launch it into orbit in 2016. The project is called Mayak and it should become the guiding star for fans of space exploration.

 

'We are still here on Earth'

Shayenko, who heads the project, worked previously in various space companies.

Alexander Shayenko

Shayenko graduated from the Bauman MSTU in 2005 as an engineer in the field of cosmonautics. He designed large spacecraft (antennas, solar panels); worked on the creation of the rocket Angara-A5; modelled the flight of the South Korean rocket KSLV-1; calculated the strength of the flight spoilers for Boeing 787 Dreamliner; and worked on the creation of DX1, Russia's second largest private spacecraft. In 2011, Shayenko defended his thesis on the thermal calculation method of the space telescope Millimetron. He taught at the Bauman MSTU. Currently, he heads the Modern Cosmonautics educational program at the Moscow State Engineering University (MAMI).

“Mankind could have conquered the other planets 40 years ago, but we are still here on Earth," he says. According to him, the reason only is that the space agencies and businesses that develop spacecraft are not doing enough and not too interested in the result. The task of Mayak is to overcome indifference, Shayenko says.

The size of the model is 10*10*34 cm, the weight is about 4 kg.

“It's like two bricks,” Shayenko explains.

“After entering the orbit, the satellite transforms into a pyramid large enough to be clearly visible in the sky due to reflected sunlight.”

The satellite is a container that holds ammonium carbonate, polymer film, two gas generators and a computer. Ammonium carbonate will decompose when heated to give carbon dioxide, water and ammonia.

After takeoff, a gas generator should start to fill with gas the frame of the pyramid by its ribs, whereby it will take a flat and stable form. Another gas generator will cause the satellite to spin, which will make it more visible to people at night.

 

The next stage

“We will conduct the model's stratospheric test later this month. This is what we raised money for. We will send our model on a helium balloon into the stratosphere at a height of 35 km. During the descent, it will inevitably be damaged, so that we will have to build another two devices for the orbital launch, the main and reserve ones," Shayenko continues.

Testing the Mayak satellite. Source: Press photo

However, this is only the beginning. To bring the project to fruition and launch the real Mayak satellite into orbit, another $262,000 is needed. Now the enthusiasts are about to sign an agreement for the launch with the University of Engineering and the company Sputniks, which will put the satellite on the rocket Dnepr in the autumn of 2016.

To raise the necessary $262,000, the enthusiasts are planning a short-term campaign in September and October 2015. In addition, Shayenko will embark on a tour across Russian regions in late July to talk about their project and the exploration of space. With a series of popular science lectures, “Cosmos from Sea to Sea,” he is to overcome 15,000 km, from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

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