THE launch of UiTMSAT-1 to the International Space Station (ISS) recently marked another milestone for Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), as it has brought to fruition an idea that began two years ago.
Crafting the way for Malaysia to become a space-faring nation, the launch, which took place at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex in Florida, the United States, was witnessed by UiTM Vice-Chancellor Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Hassan Said, deputy vice-chancellor (academic) Professor Dr Mohamad Kamal Harun, Faculty of Electrical Engineering dean Associate Professor Dr Mohd Nasir Taib and Centre for Satellite Communication director Associate Professor Dr Mohamad Huzaimy Jusoh via satellite feed at its main campus in Shah Alam.
UiTMSAT-1 is a product of Malaysia’s collaboration with Japan and two other countries, Bhutan and the Philippines, in a project called Joint Global Multi-Nation BIRDS-2.
Through this collaboration project, UiTM becomes the first Malaysian university to produce and launch a satellite with minimal cost compared with the traditional satellite.
Hassan said the launch was a significant moment for Malaysia. “We didn’t think we could do it,” he said.
The nanosatellite, Malaysia’s first to make it into space, was transported on board SpaceX’s Dragon cargo spacecraft, which was launched into space by the Falcon 9 rocket.
The main objective of the project is to expose the participants to a comprehensive and state-of-the-art hands-on experience to develop a nanosatellite.
Bhutan and the Philippines also developed their own CubeSats - Bhutan-1 and Maya-1 - that will be delivered to Japan’s ISS module, known as Kibo, and will be launched into orbit.
Each CubeSat, measuring 10cmx10cmx10cm and weighs 1kg, had to pass a technical and safety check by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) at the Tsukuba Space Centre, Japan, before being sent to Florida.
About 19 months in the making, the nanosatellite was developed by UiTM postgraduate students Syazana Basyirah Mohammad Zaki and Muhammad Hasif Azami.
The team consisted of 10 postgraduate students, including two from the Philippines, three Japanese and three from Bhutan, at the Laboratory of Spacecraft Environmental Interaction Engineering at the Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan.
SPACE MISSION
In preparation for the satellite launch, UiTM has arranged for an installation of the ground station at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering for remote operation and data acquisition. According to Huzaimy, UiTM’s ground station has been fully operational since December.
He said the nanosatellites will be released into orbit by mid-August.
“If all goes well, the ground station at the faculty will receive the Morse Code signal from the nanosatellite 30 minutes after deployment. It will be a tense 30 minutes as we wait to see if our nanosatellite works,” he added.
Huzaimy also said that they can transmit data from three ground stations in Japan, Bhutan and the Philippines.
“UiTMSAT-1 will enter into a low Earth orbit, about 400km above the clouds, and will remain in orbit for about two years. The short life span is because the Earth’s gravitational force will pull the CubeSat out of orbit over time, and it will become non-functional.
“The satellite will be traveling at a speed of 28,000kph and pass over Malaysia five times a day,” he said.
Huzaimy said there are six missions onboard the UiTMSAT-1.
The demonstration of an Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) Digipeater will enable the CubeSat to be a base station for amateur radio communication, while the demonstration of the nanosatellite’s Store and Forward.
“We have antennas on UiTMSAT-1, which allows us to collect and transmit data from rural areas to our ground stations. It will also be an Earth Imaging Camera and a demonstration of UiTM’s first commercial off-the-shelf global positioning system technology,” Huzaimy said.
Then, there is the measurement of the Single Event Latch-up Detection, which he said is the measurements of electromagnetic and plasma radiation from the sun, which can affect and degrade the surface of the nanosatellite especially its solar panels.
“And finally, there is the measurement of the Magnetic Fields using an Anisotropic Magneto Resistance (AMR) Magnetometer.
“This is for magnetic measurements. The AMR Magnetometer is tasked to measure the space electromagnetic fields to comprehend the magnetic observation that we are measuring from six stations in Malaysia.”
SATELLITE CENTRE
This project began with the planning for the satellite missions in December 2016, followed by the designing and building of the satellite model, including testing and assembling, as preparation to await the launch and operating of the satellite by June 2018.
“The launch of the satellite could introduce Malaysia to the world through international networks and collaborations. It also help Malaysian universities’ international stature, especially UiTM’s, in the space science field.”
The nanosatellite is a low-cost miniature instrument that is able to facilitate cutting-edge space research conducted from its place on-board a cube-shaped satellite.
Data from the nanocube satellite with innovative capabilities can open pathways to not only university-based research, but also offer the industry and government-led initiatives a more practical opportunity to address sustainable development goals.
The BIRDS-2 collaboration project also led to establishment of the Communication Satellite Centre (UiTMSAT) at the Faculty of Engineering in UiTM Shah Alam. This centre carries out research work on satellite communication and space science that contribute to the nation’s development.
“UiTMSAT aims to become the nation’s hub for communications satellite research and similar fields, as well as in the training and consultation areas with industry collaborations.
“The BIRDS-2 project indeed opens up various opportunities in the technological, educational and commercial aspects towards progress for Malaysia,” said Huzaimy.
Syazana said there were many challenges when designing and developing the nanosatellite, but the biggest challenge in producing UiTMSAT-1 was the time limit.
She said although each of the 10 team members were given specific and critical tasks in the development of all three nanosatellites, it was still a race against time.
“We had meetings twice a day towards the end of the project. We didn’t have any weekends for time off,” she said.
She said they had less than 15 months to design and develop their nanosatellite and was working almost every day in the laboratory.
“It was a long and tedious process, where each component had to be tested to ensure it could withstand the harsh conditions of outer space.
“Factors such as temperature, stability (due to the strong vibrations during the rocket launch) and zero gravity had to be taken into account. The nanosatellite also had to be assembled in a clean room to make sure there are no dust particles on it.”
She couldn’t hide her excitement and was grateful for the opportunity to learn and be part of the process of building a nanosatellite.
“I was nervous during the rocket launch and now, we are looking forward to the deployment event (in August), which is the most crucial part,” he added.
Both postgraduate students were sent to the Kyushu Institute of Technology under a special scholarship given by the Education Ministry.
WHAT’S NEXT
Overall, the BIRDS-2 objectives guide UiTM and Malaysia towards the space technology era by providing knowledge and practical training on the satellite engineering process to students and academicians, while also preparing the base for continuous space project for non-space-faring countries, like Malaysia, by developing human capital.
“It is also hope to build international networks through collaborations between students and academicians, which enable members to improve satellite projects at home countries via knowledge and experience sharing.”
Huzaimy said in terms of external relationships, network and cooperation, this project encourages the existence of national and international collaborations via memoranda of understanding and memoranda of agreement.
For example, he said, a collaboration was made between UiTM and Astronautic Technology Sdb Bhd, together with the Kyushu Institute of Technology and JAXA, to build local expertise in nanosatellite development among Malaysian university students.
“With the launch of the nanosatellite and earth station operations, UiTM will be visible to the entire world in the satellite and space arena.
“This project is creating history in this country in the academic and research fields as UiTM becomes the first Malaysian university to launch the nanosatellite into space,” said Huzaimy.
He said more academic projects and research in the satellite and space field could be carried out, giving birth to new niche researches at UiTM, and encouraging more students at the undergraduates and postgraduates levels to apply for the course.
“For example, a research module related to satellite communications and space data analysis will attract the interests of more undergraduates and postgraduates as well as industrial agencies because the end-product of the research will be beneficial to the world at large,” said Huzaimy.
He said more international academic seminars and conferences will be introduced and held.
For example, UiTMSAT will organise an international conference, The International Conference on Space Weather and Satellite Applications, at UiTM Shah Alam in August.
He said cooperation and collaborations between the industry and universities could be enhanced towards common objectives and purposes.
“The centre will also host the edu-tourism programme in Malaysia, where school and university students can visit UiTM’s ground station i to gain more knowledge on space science and satellite technology, pioneering the movement to advance Malaysia’s satellite technology.”