ID :
254335
Sat, 09/08/2012 - 04:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/254335
The shortlink copeid
Malaysia Eyes Nanosatellite Launch
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is eyeing to launch its own
compact space satellite designed and built by National University of Malaysia's
(UKM) Institute of Space Science (Angkasa) to monitor the ionosphere.
Angkasa director Professor Dr Mohd Alauddin Mohd Ali said the launch of
the nanosatellite would be a cost-effective way to gain data about the Earth.
"The new satellite is designed to monitor changes in the ionosphere caused
by solar flares. Many countries are concerned that the sun is setting off flares
more often, which can cause havoc with communication equipment and computers on
Earth," he said in a statement issued by the university.
Mohd Alauddin said UKM had invested about RM150,000 (US$48,231.51) from a
government grant in the device and its launch.
It is part of a United Nations (UN) consortium led by a Spanish research
team which is encouraging nations to join by sharing data through a network of
Earth satellites around the globe.
The statement said that in this way, developing nations would be able to
afford launching data-sensing devices at reasonable cost and be able to receive
information from other participants.
The date and launch site had yet to be finalised, it said, adding that
several countries like China and the United States were willing to propel the
nanosatellite by docking to a bigger satellite, possibly from a third nation.
Nanosatellite or nanosat is an artificial satellite with a mass of between
one to 10kg. It usually requires innovative propulsion, attitude control,
communication and computation systems.
-- BERNAMA