posted on Apr, 17 2024 @ 02:40 AM
Hello ATS!
On April 11, the newest heavy launch vehicle Angara-A5 with the Orion upper stage successfully launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome. It was
initially reported that the upper stage would launch some kind of test payload into geostationary orbit. 2 hours after the launch of the rocket, the
Roscosmos space corporation published information that the small spacecraft “Gagarinets” was also launched into low Earth orbit. This is what I
want to tell you about.
“Angara-A5” launched into space not a small-sized satellite mock-up, but one interesting spacecraft from a Russian private company, which actually
challenged Elon Musk and so far manages to get ahead of him.
We are talking about the Skolkovo resident company Avant Space, which created the world's first advertising satellite. The name of the device was
given in honor of the 90th anniversary of space pioneer Yuri Gagarin.
“Our spacecraft is part of the test payload of the Angara-A5 rocket. 2013 seconds after launch, our device separates, and then it makes contact
over Crimea. This launch from Vostochny is a big event for the whole country and a huge step for us. Everything here is for the first time - the
launch pad, the upper stage, the separation system and us,” said Avant Space founder Anton Ossovsky (ampravda.ru).
“Gagarinets” belongs to the spacecraft of the Cubesat 3U format, its mass does not exceed 4 kg. The satellite is equipped with an engine and a
laser projection system. Lasers are reported to consume no more than a light bulb, about 150 watts. The device moves in orbit using an engine weighing
1 kg, which over 3 years of operation will consume only 0.2 kg of fuel. After their service life expires, satellites are removed from orbit and burn
up in the atmosphere.
“Lasers are completely safe for aviation and do not prevent astronomers from discovering new facets of space,” explained Anton Ossovsky.
He also emphasized that the Gagarinets cubesat is a test satellite and all systems will be tested on it. And it is from this point that the entire
constellation of “Constellation” satellites will begin to be built.
Later, “Constellation” will include dozens of similar devices. Each of them will become part of a single symbol. Flying over cities at an altitude
of 600-800 km, the satellites will light up and use a laser to project text or an image resembling constellations. According to the creators, after
the deployment of the constellation, advertising from space will be visible to residents of multimillion-dollar cities within a few minutes.
“Outdated billboards are harmful to the environment, and LED screens consume 46 times more electricity than the average household and ruin the
aesthetics of the urban landscape. We will replace hundreds of thousands of billboards on the planet with one in space. In Tokyo, for example, such
advertising can be seen by more than 5 million people per day,” says Anton Ossovsky (habr.com).
A similar project was announced by Elon Musk’s Space X, but so far the Russian private company is ahead of him in this. Probably, launching, in
addition to the test load, a real spacecraft is not a spontaneous decision of Roscosmos. It was just not disclosed, because the installation and
launch of an aircraft requires certain calculations and preparation.
Now brands have the opportunity to advertise their product from space! The Avant Space company is ready to conclude contracts and by the end of this
year offers to place the logo on the first advertising satellite for $1 million. Well, my friends from England will be able to watch their beloved
Vladimir Putin in the sky every day, who will convey his sincere greetings to them!)))
Thank you.