UiTMSAT-1 was a Malaysian nanosatellite, built primarily by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) as part of the multi-nation Birds-2 project. The 1U CubeSat was launched into space on 29 June 2018 and deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on 10 August 2018.

UiTMSAT-1
UiTMSAT-1 in Space
Mission typeTechnology demonstration
OperatorUniversiti Teknologi MARA
COSPAR ID1998-067PD Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.43589
Websitebirds2.birds-project.com
Mission duration6-9 months (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type1U CubeSat
ManufacturerUniversiti Teknologi MARA
Launch mass1.11 kg
Dimensions10 × 10 × 10 cm
Start of mission
Launch date29 June 2018, 09:42 UTC
RocketFalcon 9 Full Thrust
Launch siteCape Canaveral, SLC-40
ContractorSpaceX
Deployed fromInternational Space Station
Deployment date10 August 2018
End of mission
Decay date20 November 2020
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude398.6 km
Apogee altitude407.2 km
Inclination51.6°
Period92.5 minutes
← Birds-1

Background

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Malaysia has had several satellites in orbit, beginning with the MEASAT constellation, first operational in 1996. Their first microsatellite, TiungSAT-1, was launched in 2000.[1]

Development

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Planning for the mission began in December 2016 at the Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT). UiTM postgraduate students Syazana Basyirah Mohammad Zaki and Muhammad Hasif Azami developed the satellite over a 19-month period and collaborated with eight other students from the Philippines, Bhutan, and Japan. This collaboration also inspired the creation of a new Communication Satellite Centre at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).[2]

Objectives

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Launch and mission

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Birds-2 in the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer.
 
Birds-2 satellites deployed from the Kibō module.

UiTMSAT-1 was launched to space on 29 June 2018 by the Falcon 9 Full Thrust rocket at Cape Canaveral in Florida, United States as part of the SpaceX CRS-15 Commercial Resupply Service mission.[2] Maya-1 and BHUTAN-1, which were also developed under the Birds-2 project, were among the payload of the rocket.[3] All three nanosatellites were deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) and achieved orbit on 10 August 2018.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ "Satellite Industry Developments" (PDF). Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. 2008. pp. 28–29. ISSN 1985-0522.
  2. ^ a b c Mustafa, Zulita. "UiTMSAT-1 puts Malaysia at the final frontier". New Straits Times. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  3. ^ Panela, Shaira (29 June 2018). "Philippines launches first CubeSat into space". Rappler. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  4. ^ "CubeSat Maya-1 successfully deployed to space". Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  5. ^ Bernama (11 August 2018). "UiTM creates history with launch of satellite into orbit". New Straits Times.