Blagoveshchensk: A microsatellite, the first of its kind developed collaboratively by Chinese and Russian university students, was successfully launched on Tuesday from the city of Blagoveshchensk, Russia. The CubeSat, a miniature satellite weighing approximately 15.7 kg, is intended for the verification of micro-nano satellite technology, amateur radio technology experiments, and space science education, as reported by the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province.
According to Emirates News Agency, the project aims to leverage resources from higher education institutions in both countries and foster cultural exchanges among their youth. The collaboration involved Chinese and Russian universities, including HIT, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Amur State University, and Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
Cao Jian, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department of HIT, mentioned that the satellite’s development was led by students
from both nations. A team from an HIT student club spearheaded the project, with around 50 students participating, over 60 percent of whom were undergraduates at the start of the initiative.
“The university provided us with experienced faculty advisors, experimental facilities, development funding, and allowed us technical and project management independence,” stated Zhang Jiyao, a doctoral student from the School of Astronautics at HIT and a member of the experiment team.
