Samara University Shares Its Experience in Integrating Education and Science through Creation of Nanosatellites

A report summarizing the experience of Samara National Research University in developing and manufacturing its own nanosatellites and integrating these R&D activities into the educational process was presented at the CUBESAT roundtable. The discussion session took place at the III Sphere Congress organized by Roscosmos State Corporation.

Igor Belokonov, Head of the Inter-University Department of Space Research at Samara University, stated that programs based on the creation of nanosatellites make it possible to train real professionals in the field of rocket and space technology, whose training fully meets modern challenges and complies with the best international practices.

“The main peculiarity of modern space education that is now ubiquitous is the support for student projects that include the creation of CubeSats, new information resources for space education, and giving universities access to space. And, of course, encouraging students to take part in space conferences,” said Professor Belokonov.

Today universities using nanosatellites in their educational process have several advantages. Above all, they provide an education that is relevant to today’s challenges, as small-scale astronautics – ultra-light rockets, small spacecraft and small upper stages – is currently developing very dynamically. The training takes place in the context of a real project, engaging promising students in astronautics and elaborating new ideas with their participation.

According to Igor Belokonov, the Inter-University Department of Space Research at Samara University has integrated the development of scientific nanosatellites into the training process. The bachelor program on small spacecraft and nanosatellites is implemented. At the next level, there is specialization in several master’s programs: “Advanced space technologies and experiments in space”, “Space information systems and nanosatellites. Navigation and remote sensing of the Earth”, “Information and control systems and devices of nanosatellites”. The best graduates continue their postgraduate studies at Samara University. There are educational programs in English.

“Our research laboratory is involved in the educational process; it works under a state assignment from the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. There are also three centers under the department’s umbrella: the Nanosatellite Technology Center, the Nanosatellite Test and Development Center and the Mission Control Center. I believe that every university that is serious about training students in space technology should have such structures,” stressed Igor Belokonov.

Samara University has extensive experience in the development of small spacecraft and unified platforms of 50 kg to half a tonne, including in cooperation with its industrial partner, Progress Rocket and Space Centre. These are PIONs, AISTs of the first series, AIST-2D, AIST-3. There is an in-house University orbital constellation and a ground-based receiving and processing facility.

As for the development of nanosatellites in the CubeSat format, the University took up this topic in 2014, and in April 2016 the SamSat-218D had a maiden launch into orbit from the Vostochny cosmodrome. The next step was to include the SamSat-QB50 nanosatellite in the international QB50 project, which simultaneously launched 50 small satellites to study the Earth’s atmosphere under the auspices of the European Space Agency.

“Work has now been completed on the SamSat-ION nanosatellite. It is focused on studying the Earth’s ionosphere, and we hope to launch it in June 2023 as part of the UniverSat program, for which we are grateful to Roscosmos. The next nanosatellite which we expect to complete this year and have already applied to Roscosmos for UniverSat-2024 with is SamSat-Mayak. It is also focused on studying the Earth’s ionosphere,” said Igor Belokonov.

He made a number of suggestions which were supported by the roundtable participants. In particular, Professor Belokonov proposed that the Ministry of Education and Science, the Russian Science Foundation and Roscosmos State Corporation jointly organize a grant competition to finance micro- and nanosatellite projects on the topics of the state program “Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation”.

In order to attract promising young people in academic institutions and universities to space themes, the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education should develop a special program called Small-Scale Astronautics, under which universities and scientific organizations of the RAS would conduct low-budget experiments in space using micro- and nanosatellites on a permanent basis.