UGATUSAT

UGATUSAT was a Russian microsatellite which was built and operated by Ufa State Aviation Technical University. The satellite was intended to be used as a technology demonstrator, and for Earth observation.

Overview

The microsatellite UGATUSAT was developed by the Student Bureau "Infocosmos" at Ufa State Aviation Technical University, with an expected operational lifetime of three years. The satellite was equipped with a multi-channel multispectral camera that had a resolution of 50 meters per pixel. It was anticipated that the Space Educational and Scientific Laboratory, established as part of the university's educational program, would utilize UGATUSAT to:

Conduct environmental monitoring
Analyze parameters of mineral extraction
Track forest fires and medium-scale fires
Observe river flooding
Monitor temperature anomalies, chemical emissions into the atmosphere, and emergency oil spills.

The mass of the UGATUSAT microsatellite was 40 kg.

Launch

Initially, UGATUSAT was scheduled to launch on 19 June 2009 aboard a Kosmos-3M carrier rocket from Launch Complex 107 at Kapustin Yar. However, the launch was postponed, and UGATUSAT was eventually launched as a secondary payload on a Soyuz-2 rocket. On 17 September 2009 at 19:55 Moscow time, the educational microsatellite UGATUSAT was launched into space from Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch, originally planned for 15 September 2009, was delayed due to weather conditions.

Mission

On 30 December 2009, communication with UGATUSAT was lost. It is suspected that the satellite experienced a malfunction that affected its gyroscope control moment system, leading to the failure of the spacecraft. The last contact with UGATUSAT occurred on 13 February 2010, after which the mission was formally concluded.