HELSINKI, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Finland's first science satellite is ready for launch this summer, the University of Helsinki announced on Tuesday.
The satellite's journey from Espoo, southern Finland, will begin within a few days, the University said. Its first stop will be in Berlin, where the satellite will be integrated into a launch adapter and delivered to its designated rocket by the German launch service provider EXOLaunch.
In the summer, the satellite will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the space center in Cape Canaveral, in Florida, USA.
The satellite, named Forsail-1, was developed by the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research into Sustainable Space.
Jaan Praks, an assistant professor from Aalto University, said that the reliability and longevity of the new satellite had been enhanced by better protecting its electronics from space radiation than those of previous small satellites were.
The satellite, which is only the size of a milk carton, will carry two unique scientific instruments developed by the Centre of Excellence, including the PATE particle telescope, which will study the near-Earth radiation environment, and a plasma brake, which will bring the satellite out of orbit.
The PATE particle telescope was developed to help researchers better understand the radiation environment of space, and thus extend the life of satellites, explained Professor Rami Vainio from the University of Turku. ■
