NSU NORBI-3 satellite was launched simultaneously with the Ionosfera-M No. 1 and No. 2 saltellites. This was part of a payload of an additional 49 Russian and foreign satellites. This launch set a record for spacecraft simultaneously launched into target orbits.
NORBI-3, like two previous university satellites, was launched as part of the Roscosmos State Corporation's UniverSat program. Currently, the UniverSat group has 22 small satellites (SSC), three of which were developed at NSU. All the spacecraft in the group were created at leading Russian universities and address problems presented by the Roscosmos State Corporation.
Vitaly Prokopyev, Head of the NSU Aerospace Research Department, explained,
The main mission for Norbi-3 is to monitor the radiation in orbit for Roshydromet. In addition, the satellite will be used to test and develop satellite subsystems and flight cyclogram algorithms for tasks included in the federal "Sphere" project. We have successfully established contact with NORBI-3 and are starting the work.
Students in the Master's "Space and Special Instrumentation" program at the NSU Advanced Engineering School (NSU AES) took part in the development of the satellite and its launch preparation.
Sergey Golovin, Director NSU AES, provided more information about their program,
Space is one of the priority areas for the Advanced Engineering School so we pay a lot of attention to it. This year, we repaired and equipped a modern center for design, small-scale assembly, and ground testing of small satellites and increased our fleet of testing equipment. This allowed us to significantly expand NSU's capabilities in the field of space equipment development. It is important that during their studies, students in our Master's Program are involved in projects commissioned by key Russian companies in the rocket and space industry. These companies include JSC Reshetnev, JSC TsNIIMash, JSC NPO Lavochkina. This makes it possible for students to gain tremendous experience and develop unique skills.
