The launch of UPMSat-2 has been postponed

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The date on which the UPMSat-2 will be launched into space is not known yet. The delay is due to the failure last July in the Vega launcher that will carry also the UPM satellite.

The Vega launcher had 100% success rate until its first failure on July 11 while launching into orbit the Falcon Eye-1 military satellite for the United Arab Emirates. The rocket and its payload were lost a few minutes after launch. This has caused delays and postponements of subsequent scheduled launches, among which is the UPMSat-2, the second satellite developed by the Microgravity University Institute “Ignacio Da Riva” (Instituto Universitario "Ignacio Da Riva", IDR) of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (IDR/UPM).


Image: ESA (European Space Agency)/CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales)/Arianspace

The launch scheduled on September 9 from Kourou has been postponed pending a new date that is still unknown. After the failure, Arianespace decided to appoint an inquiry commission whose task is to clarify the causes of the event and inspect thoroughly some of the components. On August 6, Arianespace resumed launching, placing Intelsat39 and EDRS-C telecommunications satellites into a geostationary transfer orbit. The UPM researchers, therefore, expect to be communicated a new date to complete this space platform project, that has successfully achieved the "Flight Readiness Review".

Educational and technology demonstration platform
UPMSat-2 has two objectives. The first of them, already accomplished, has been to contribute to the training of UPM students. Around 70 students of the Master's Degree in Space Systems (MUSE) and the Undergraduate's Degree in Aerospace Engineering (GIA) have been involved in the design, integration and tests, together with the IDR/UPM researchers and the Real-Time Systems and Architecture of Telematic Services (STRAST) research group. They have been able to first-hand experience the advances as well as hurdles arising during the satellite development, and thus acquiring knowledge of great value for their professional future. “This delay is also part of that learning, because within the space sector, sometimes things happen that are beyond our reach and modify the foreseen plans,” as explained from the IDR.

The second objective of UPMSat-2 will be achieved once the launch has taken place. This is the technological demonstration in orbit. The satellite of the University of Madrid is a low-cost space platform for checking in-house equipment (in-orbit qualification) and which, in most cases, is a starting point for the marketing of technological innovations of Spanish companies.
 
Additional Information:
UPMSat-2
Series of videos “UPMSat-2: Beyond the University”

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