The only one of 33 in the world: Ukrainian nanosatellite PolyITAN-1 set a space record

At Igor Sikorsky KPI, a Ukrainian record was officially registered. The university nanosatellite PolyITAN-1 became the record holder for flight duration among Ukrainian nanosatellites.

Key points: Official Ukrainian record: On 30 July the university nanosatellite PolyITAN-1 was entered into the Book of Records of Ukraine in the category “Longest flight of a Ukrainian nanosatellite in space.” More than 12 years in orbit: The spacecraft, launched back in June 2014, has been operating continuously and transmitting telemetry signals to Earth. Unique in the world: PolyITAN-1 turned out to be the only one of 33 spacecraft from 17 countries launched as part of that mission that still remains operational in space. Student-scientific development: The nanosatellite was entirely created by faculty, postgraduates, and students of Igor Sikorsky KPI. In total, the university has already launched three of its own spacecraft. A foundation for the space sector: The project founded KPI’s space school. On 30 July the university officially established and registered the Ukrainian record in the category “Longest flight of a Ukrainian nanosatellite in space.” The university nanosatellite PolyITAN-1, which has already been operating in low Earth orbit for more than 12 years, was entered into the Book of Records of Ukraine. The achievement was recorded by Vitaliy Zorin, an expert of the National Register of Records of Ukraine. Why the satellite became a record holder PolyITAN-1 was launched into orbit on 19 June 2014 by the Ukrainian launch vehicle Dnipro. Since then it has continued to operate and transmit telemetry signals. As KPI notes, it is the only one of 33 spacecraft from 17 countries that were launched as part of that mission that still operates in space. What technologies were created at KPI KPI Rector Anatoliy Melnychenko emphasized that the university is working to restore Ukraine’s potential as a spacefaring nation. According to him, KPI has already launched three of its own satellites, and faculty, postgraduates, and students worked on PolyITAN-1. Read also: Independently or cooperatively. Can Ukraine create its own satellites The university created a closed system for designing, manufacturing, and testing small spacecraft and their components. In particular, they developed a power supply system, thermal regulation, attitude and navigation systems, as well as a communications system. In addition, KPI established training for engineers for the space sector. PolyITAN-1 became the basis of KPI’s space program The university emphasizes that PolyITAN-1 was the first university nanosatellite of Ukraine and founded KPI’s modern space school, with the university remaining the only Ukrainian university with its own space program. This project became the basis for creating a new generation of multifunctional spacecraft intended to obtain high-precision images of Earth’s surface and to study the Earth’s atmosphere. KPI also noted that last year more than 40% of all applicants to the specialty “Aviation and Rocket-Space Engineering” chose this university. Who attended the ceremony The record-setting ceremony was attended by the satellite’s developers led by scientific supervisor Borys Rassamakyn, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada and Chair of KPI’s Supervisory Board Oleksandr Kornienko, representatives of the State Space Agency of Ukraine, the Main Astronomical Observatory of the NAS of Ukraine, and the university administration. Kornienko noted that Ukraine remains a spacefaring nation, and the development of domestic space technologies and engineering education is important for the country’s future. In turn, Eduard Kuznetsov, head of the Public Council of the State Space Agency of Ukraine, emphasized that such projects are important for attracting a new generation of specialists to the rocket-space sector.

Previously RBC-Ukraine reported that KPI is updating educational programs with a focus on artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum technologies, and new engineering specialties for the postwar reconstruction of Ukraine, and is also expanding cooperation with international technology companies. We also wrote that Ukraine is experiencing an acute shortage of physicists and chemists. KPI explained why applicants rarely choose these specialties, even though demand for such specialists in industry, science, the security sector, and the country’s reconstruction remains high.