Two years ago, the ITASAT nanosatellite, produced by the Space Center of the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA), with support from the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), was rising into space on board the Falcon rocket 9, from SpaceX, launched from the USAF base in Vandenberg, California (USA).
The launch, initially scheduled for November 2018, had to be postponed for two weeks due to the strong winds that hit the American launch center. The rocket finally went up at 4:31 pm (Brasília time) on December 3 of that year, carrying the SSO-A module of Spaceflight (American aerospace company based in Herndon, Virginia), dedicated to hitchhikes from several small satellites. . In this launch, 64 satellites (15 microsatellites and 49 nanosatellites) were launched, with only three having the 6U configuration, composition of six cubes with 10 centimeters of edge – among them ITASAT. Three hours after the launch of Falcon 9, ground stations picked up the first signs of ITASAT. It was up to the amateur radio Roland (PY4ZBZ), French living in Brazil, in Sete Lagoas (MG),
With the satellite up and running, ITA kept it in safety mode for about a month to assess the satellite’s health data. In January 2019, ITA started commissioning payloads (putting payloads into operation), an operation that continued until March 2019. Thereafter, ITASAT maintained its standard of operation.
On December 3, 2019, the satellite reached one year of operation, therefore, completing its mission, as its useful life was projected for the duration of one year. Last Thursday, December 3, 2020, the satellite completed two years of continuous operation, reaching twice its expected life in the project. In celebration of the fact, telemetry from ITASAT was captured by radio amateurs within the Brazilian territory. Together with INPE’s ground stations in Natal (RN) and Santa Maria (RS), they were able to attest that the satellite is still in operation. ITASAT data were received in Brazil, Argentina, Japan and Taiwan.
The Dean of ITA, Prof. Dr. Anderson Ribeiro Correia, commented on the achievement. “ITASAT is the main nanosatellite developed at ITA, with educational purposes to assist in the training of specialists in the aerospace area, it opened doors for new projects and partnerships with renowned national and international institutions. It is a great success ”, he highlighted.
Radio amateur Edson Pereira (PY2SDR) commented on the action. “On behalf of Brazilian radio amateurs, it is with great satisfaction that LABRE / AMSAT-BR congratulates the ITASAT educational CubeSat team for the passing of its second anniversary. Projects like ITASAT are not only excellent tools in the teaching of STEM (term in English that refers to the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics) for our future professionals in the areas of science and technology, but they are also a source of pride for elevating the image of Brazil in the competitive global space sector ”, he said.
The coordinator of AEB’s Satellites and Applications, Dr. Rodrigo Leonardi, points out that there were many challenges that had to be overcome in order to celebrate. “AEB has always believed in and supported the development of this project, which now serves as a legacy for future national missions and which allowed the qualification in our country of several young engineers. My sincere congratulations to the entire ITASAT team”, he concluded.
About AEB
The Brazilian Space Agency is an autarchy linked to the MCTI, responsible for formulating, coordinating and executing the Brazilian Space Policy. Since its creation, on February 10, 1994, the Agency has worked to make the Brazilian State’s efforts to promote the well-being of society via the sovereign employment of the space sector viable.
Social Communication Coordination – CCS
Source: ITA