First satellite made-in-Thailand enters orbit

By The Thaiger

 

PHOTO: ABC Action news, Bangkok Post

 

A Thai university has announced that the first domestically produced satellite has now entered orbit. Weighing in at 1 kilogram and measuring only 10 centimetres on each side, the tiny educational satellite was one of 64 on board the recent SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from California on Tuesday.

 

Pongsatorn Saisutjarit heads the research team who designed and build the satellite at the King Mongkut University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB).

 

Pongsatorn studied in Tokyo Gakugei University and graduated from the University of Tokyo’s department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Pongsatorn believes that the systematic thinking process and precision techniques he learned in Japan helped make this project a success.

 

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/first-satellite-made-in-thailand-enters-orbit

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2018-12-20

Just waiting now to be told that its boosters fail (brakes) and it overshoots its orbit.

 

I heard that Big Joke is actually hiding in the rocket with a high powered binoculars to check on those awful farangs doing illegal visa runs on the Poipet frontier crossing.

 

 

 

Later we will find out it was a 12" subwoofer that was playing boom boom cowbell music into space to hunt for unintelligent life forms. 

Now now, it's a great achievement - let's hope that this little Cubesat performs as expected.

 

Hopefully, Myanmar will also soon be entering the Cubesat 'space race'. I previously worked for ESA (European Space Agency) and have designed Myanmar's first Cubesat, which is currently under construction by me, with assistance from some of my Science students in Naypyitaw ????  

It'll be back soon. 

Is it already flying against traffic or cutting of corners?

25 minutes ago, vinegarbase said:

Later we will find out it was a 12" subwoofer that was playing boom boom cowbell music into space to hunt for unintelligent life forms. 

...and finding them ????

Won't be long now before we have Prayut Chan-o-cha walking on the moon. 

Braking news

It's just hit the international space station

and is now accelerating away from

the scene at high speed. 

1 minute ago, stanleycoin said:

Braking news

It's just hit the international space station

and is now accelerating away from

the scene at high speed. 

Oh then the brakes didn't work, can happen...mai ben rai..

I wonder if Space X turned on the meter or are just using a flat rate.

 

Good for them! Congrats!

Won't be long now before we have Prayut Chan-o-cha walking on the moon. 

He already walks on water so the moon should be a piece of cake (cheese)

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Pongsatorn believes that the systematic thinking process and precision techniques he learned in Japan helped make this project a success

Had to go Japan for Systematic thinking process and precision techniques .. Are these not available in the Kingdom .? And does little satellite know about Pee Nebula up there ..

1 kg and 10 cm ? Are they sure they haven't sent a Sky TV box up .. 

I bet the password is 12345

I think they just sent an iPhone into orbit.

 

What does the satellite actually do??

"The satellite uses amateur radio frequencies for data transmission along with an iPhone 4 camera. Its antenna is fashioned from a metal tape measure purchased at a Japanese dollar store and most of its components come from Japan, while some Japanese companies offered their expertise in support of the project." The Thaiger.

 

Is this really news worthy? I remember as a trainee compositor putting an article in the Picton Post, a gate had been stolen. It up there with such reports.

I hope all those other satellites know to keep watch for erratic orbiting and denying any liability for dings.

10 hours ago, UnkleGoooose said:

It'll be back soon. 

No it wont, It will be late

If it's 10cm cubed and weighing 1kg I suspect it's a box of water.

I can't understand why they needed SpaceX to launch the satellite when there are so many rocket scientists in Yasothon, the hub of space exploration in Thailand! 

more space junk

61 years ago the Soviet Union launched Spoutnik which had a mass of 83.7 kilos, using their own rocket. What makes me sad is that this gives us an accurate reflection of the state of this country. To add insult to injury the first time I came to Thailand, in 1979, China's development was lagging way behind.

11 hours ago, observer90210 said:

I heard that Big Joke is actually hiding in the rocket with a high powered binoculars to check on those awful farangs doing illegal visa runs on the Poipet frontier crossing.

 

 

 

And don't forget to mention all the farangs scamming Thai people.

For the next launch they have deemed Space-X too expensive, a home grown launch vehicle is under development, exclusive footage:-

 

 

 

12 hours ago, vinegarbase said:

Later we will find out it was a 12" subwoofer that was playing boom boom cowbell music into space to hunt for unintelligent life forms. 

LMAO!!!! ????????????????????????

What a great way to start the day. Thanks!

13 hours ago, vinegarbase said:

to hunt for unintelligent life forms

You mean they'll come to my neighborhood?

Might be a good day to wear a crash helmet inside as well as outside and on motorbike!

"The satellite uses amateur radio frequencies for data transmission along with an iPhone 4 camera. Its antenna is fashioned from a metal tape measure purchased at a Japanese dollar store and most of its components come from Japan, while some Japanese companies offered their expertise in support of the project." The Thaiger.

 

Is this really news worthy?

 

Actually, the idea of these Cubesats is that they use components that can be bought off the shelf.  The estimated life of a Cubesat may be from a few days to a year or so.  Therefore, expensive, space-hardened components are not required. The projects demonstrate that functioning mini-satellites can be built using cheap, common components.

 

Using ham radio bands for uplink and downlink data transmissions is the norm - it minimises any spectrum licencing issues and costs.

 

The metal tape antenna is also the accepted design method for the VHF/UHF antenna.  Why?  Because during launch, the tape is curled up safely and cannot interfere with the ejection mechanism to launch the minisat into orbit.  Once jettisoned into space, a data signal releases the tension of the tape measure and it automatically unfurls in the vacuum environment.

 

Sometimes, the most simple solutions are the best ones ????

 

For Myansat 1 (the Cubesat that I've designed for Myanmar), it also uses a metal tape measure antenna. 

 

The rechargable battery is one designed for a Nokia phone. 

The solar panels were ordered on Lazada.

The beacon transmitter (to locate the satellite once in orbit) is a tiny unit that radio hams use for radio 'fox-hunting'.

The data transmitter and receiver is a Chinese unit that's usually used in cheap walkie-talkies.

Instead of a camera, Myansat has an onboard MP3 player that will play audio data streams (for decoding back on earth), as well as an unencoded recording of the Myanmar national anthem  Actually, if the Myanmar government put the brakes on my project, then I can re-record that music to be the Lao national anthem, Botswanan national anthem or perhaps Monty Python's "I'm a Lumberjack"....