Mazaalai (satellite)
| Names |
Bird MM NUMSAT-1 |
|---|---|
| Mission type |
Technology demonstration Earth observation |
| Operator | National University of Mongolia |
| COSPAR ID | 1998-067MW[1] |
| SATCAT no. | 42822 |
| Mission duration |
Planned: 12 months Elapsed: 1 month, 14 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | 1U CubeSat |
| Launch mass | 1 kg (2.2 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 3 June 2017, 21:07:38 UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 FT, CRS-11 |
| Launch site | Kennedy LC-39A |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
| Entered service | 7 July 2017, 08:51 UTC |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Semi-major axis | 6,778.9 km (4,212.2 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.0004318 |
| Perigee | 397.8 km (247.2 mi) |
| Apogee | 403.7 km (250.8 mi) |
| Inclination | 51.6402° |
| Period | 92.57 minutes |
| Epoch | 9 August 2017, 04:37:41 UTC[3] |
Mazaalai (Mongolian: Мазаалай; IPA: [madz͡aːlai]), is the first Mongolian satellite in space.[4] The earlier satellite MongolSat-1 is sometimes reported as Mongolia's first satellite, but MongolSat-1 was an ABS satellite manufactured by Boeing and co-branded as MongolSat-1 after launch.[5] Mazaalai was launched on 3 June 2017 as part of the SpaceX CRS-11 mission, and was released into space from the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer on the International Space Station on 7 July 2017.
Background
The satellite is part of the Birds-1 constellation of satellites through the Joint Global Multi-Nation Birds Satellite at Japan's Kyushu Institute of Technology, a program intended to help universities in non-spacefaring countries get satellites into space.[4] The Birds-1 constellation also included satellites from Japan, Ghana, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. The two year period, spanning the building, development, launching and operating of the satellites, engaged three university students each from the five participating countries. All five satellites were identical to each other.[6] The satellites from Ghana (GhanaSat-1) and Bangladesh (BRAC Onnesha) were the first satellites in space for those countries. [6][7]
Design
Development
Mazaalai is named after the endangered Gobi bear, native to Mongolia.[4][6] Mazaalai was designed and built by three young researchers of the National University of Mongolia.[8]
Operation
The satellite is a CubeSat, a small 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) class of satellites. The satellites were in the class of a 1U miniature satellite.
Mission
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Launch
Mazaalai was sent to the International Space Station on 3 June 2017 as part of the SpaceX CRS-11 mission. It was carried in a Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket, launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A, the 100th launch from that pad. This was the first time SpaceX had reused one of its Dragon capsules.[2] The satellite was released into orbit from the Japanese Kibō module of the ISS on 7 July 2017.[9] The satellite orbits the Earth at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometres (250 mi) and at an inclination of 51.6 degrees. The satellite travels around the Earth every 92 minutes at a velocity of 7.67 kilometres per second (17,200 mph)[10][11]
Operations
The satellite will perform experiments including GPS location, air density measurement, and investigation of cosmic radiation. The satellite will also broadcast the national anthem of Mongolia into space.[9] The project was supported by Mongolian Emergency Organization of Government and National University of Mongolia the as part of the Joint Global Multi-Nation BIRDS Satellite project of Kyushu Institute of Technology, an international interdisciplinary project for non-space faring countries supported by Japan.[4]
Future work
A second satellite launch in 2019 is being planned by the Mazaalai team members.[6][7] Japan's work with non-spacefaring countries will continue with Birds-2 in 2018 with the Philippines, Bhutan, and Malaysia.[1]
References
- 1 2 "Bird B, BTN, G, J, M, MYS, N, PHL (BRAC Onnesha, GhanaSat 1, Toki, Mazaalai, Nigeria EduSat 1)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- 1 2 Clark, Stephen (3 June 2017). "Reused Dragon cargo capsule launched on journey to space station". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ↑ "Bird MM - Orbit". Heavens Above. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 "Mongolia to send first satellite off to space on June 4". News Ghana. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ↑ Russell, Kendall (19 April 2017). "ABS Co-Brands ABS 2A Capacity as MongolSat 1 – Via Satellite -". Via Satellite.
- 1 2 3 4 "Mongolia to send its first satellite to space on June 4". The Indian Express. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- 1 2 Same, Mont. "Mongolia to launch first satellite in 2017". mongolia.gogo.mn. mongolia. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ↑ Report, Xinhua. "Mazaalai: Mongolia's first satellite will be off to space alongwith SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 4". newsnation.in. newsnation. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- 1 2 "Mongolia First Satellite Starts Operations in Space". Prensa Latina – Agencia Latinoamericana de Noticias. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ↑ "President Akufo-Addo congratulates All Nations University for Ghanasat-1 Satellite". Ghana News Agency. 7 July 2017.
- ↑ Babatunde, Mark (11 July 2017). "Ghanaian Engineers Launch Ghanasat-1, Join Space Race". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved 24 July 2017.