Filenews 11 October 2024
The progress of the construction of the first satellite to be created in Cyprus and expected to be launched into space in 2026, will be presented today at the Cyprus Centre for Space Research and Innovation (C-SpaRC), in Nicosia.
According to the President of the Cyprus Space Exploration Organization (CSEO), George Danos, the satellite will conduct experiments in collaboration with NASA on space weather, using NASA sensors, to better understand the influence of solar storms on our planet's atmosphere and our biology.
In addition, the satellite will monitor our environment and forests from above for early detection of fires.
"But the most important thing is that we acquire our own domestic know-how and the ability to produce micro-satellites, a particularly important sector internationally. In a few years the lack of such a capability will be like a country in today's era without digitalization in governance," Danos said.
And this satellite, he stressed, "is just a start."
The satellite will be made of metal and will be about 30 centimeters long.
"That is, with state-of-the-art technology (as was done with the miniaturization of mobile phones) we can have satellites so small with capabilities that much larger satellites had 20 years ago," Danos noted.
The satellite, with 3D printed parts, is being developed in collaboration with NASA and COSPAR, the leading international space research organization, and is expected to launch in 2026.
In addition, the state-of-the-art equipment recently acquired for the C-SpaRC will be presented, where the infrastructure is being implemented at a fast pace. This includes the unique in Cyprus, and one of the few pan-European Selective Laser Melting (SLM) metal printing systems, capable of printing metals (aluminium, steel, platinum, etc.) with extremely high resolution, quality and large dimensions.
It is noted that SLM will soon be available for use by Cypriot member companies of the Cyprus Space Cluster, significantly enhancing their capabilities in the space sector.
"This development paves the way for Cyprus to dynamically enter the global space market, which has revenues of 570 billion euros annually (2023)," the Cyprus Space Exploration Organization (CSEO) said in a statement.
Significant research results from research in all areas will also be presented, "highlighting C-SpaRC as the first centre in the world to bridge international cooperation and consolidate Cyprus as a protagonist in the dynamic field of space research and innovation".
The project partners, from the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO), the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING), the CYENS Centre of Excellence, the University of Cyprus, Aretaeio Hospital, as well as representatives of NASA and the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, will present important research results of C-SpaRC in areas such as the impact of Space Weather on human biology and predictive modelling of Space Weather and Situational Awareness Space (SSA).
C-SpaRC, a Strategic Infrastructure 1222 project in Cyprus, is implemented with funding from the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) and with assistance and collaboration from NASA.
CNA
