Foresail-1 is the first satellite from Finland’s Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space. Press release.
The Centre of Excellence director, Professor Minna Palroth from the University of Helsinki, has said that we have created the first Finnish scientific space program with long-term funding support from the Academy of Finland.
The satellite’s journey from Otaniemi in Espoo will begin within a few days. Berlin, Germany will be the first destination. This is where the satellite will be integrated in the launch adapter. The German launch service provider EXOLaunch will deliver Foresail-1 to its designated rocket. The satellite will be launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the summer.
Open-source project
Foresail-1’s satellite systems and scientific instruments were all built and developed in Finland. The Centre of Excellence studies space conditions, and uses this research in order to develop satellites that can withstand the harshest space conditions. It is led by the University of Helsinki, which also includes Aalto University and the University of Turku. The measurement of scientific instruments and their measurements are done by teams from the University of Turu and the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
The Aalto University team was responsible for the planning and building of the satellite. The team created an entirely new, open satellite platform in their laboratory. The satellite platform, as well as its subsystems (such as the radio, radio central computer, frame antennas, position sensors, batteries, solar panels, and radio), can be used in future Finnish satellite missions. The satellite plans will be available as an open-source project.
Professor Jaan Praks from Aalto University said that special attention was paid to the reliability of the satellite and its longevity by better protecting its electronics against space radiation than in small satellites.
Software was developed by Aalto University
Throughout the project, several development versions of the satellites were made. The functionality of the systems was confirmed through numerous tests in extreme conditions such as high vibration, vacuum, and low temperatures. Praks states that the final flight model will be integrated into the launch adapter. This adapter will then be attached at Cape Canaveral to the Falcon 9 rocket.
The Otaniemi satellite ground station will control and operate the satellite. This station currently tracks the Aalto-1, Suomi100 and Suomi100 satellites. Ground station operations are based on software and solutions developed at Aalto University.
The best of Finnish expertise in a compact package
Although the satellite is only the size of a milk container, it will be equipped with two unique scientific instruments created by the Centre of Excellence: The PATE particle telescope which will study the near Earth radiation environment and the plasma brake which will lift the satellite from orbit.
The plasma brake was already tested in Aalto-1. However, further development has increased its operational reliability. The brake reduces the amount space debris in orbit by slowing down the satellite, so that it sinks back into the atmosphere. It then goes up in smoke. Normally, it takes years for satellites that are returned into the atmosphere to sink. However, with the plasma brake the process could be speeded up to just two weeks.
The plasma brake works as expected and in our tests. However its braking force is not yet fully measured in space, according to Research Manager Pekka Janhunen, Finnish Meteorological Institute.
Understanding the radiation environment in space
The University of Turku developed the PATE particle telescope. This telescope aims to provide better understanding of the radiation environment in space and help extend the life of satellites there.
The PATE instrument will allow us to measure electron exits from radiation zones into atmosphere with greater accuracy. ProfessorRami Vainio, University of Turku, said that this knowledge will allow us to develop satellites that are more resistant to space radiation and can operate in space for longer periods of time.
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