NepaliSat-1

NepaliSat-1, also known as Bird NPL,[1] is a Nepalese low orbit research satellite and the first satellite of Nepal.[2] Along with a Sri Lankan satellite Raavana 1 it was launched as part of Cygnus NG-11 by the United States on 17 April 2019.[3] It reached the International Space Station 19 April 2019, to be deployed later, and estimated to revolve the Earth for six months.[4]

NepaliSat-1
Mission typespace engineering
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID1998-067QC
Start of mission
Launch date17 April 2019, 20:46 (2019-04-17UTC20:46Z) UTC
Launch siteVirginia
 

Background

The nano satellite was developed by two Nepalese scientists Aabhas Maskey and Hariram Shrestha, both of whom are currently studying at Japanese Kyushu Institute of Technology. Aabhas Maskey, a PhD candidate in space engineering is the project manager of the Birds-3 project and he involves himself in this project.[5] The satellite has a mass of 1.3 kg[6] and funded by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology while it was constructed under the BIRDS-3 project of the Japanese Kyushu Institute of Technology.[7] The main mission of Birds Program was to support to that country who has never sent their satellite to space.[5] The development of the satellite cost nearly twenty million Nepalese rupee.[2] The satellite contains Nepal's flag and Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) logo, alongside the developers name.[8][9]

Satellite launch

The satellite was launched April 18 at 2:31 am (Nepal Standard Time) from Virginia.[10] The satellite will be orbiting at an altitude of about 400 kilometres.[2] The satellite will take pictures of Nepal to provide geographical information to the country.[8] Suresh Kumar Dhungel said to The Kathmandu Post: "The satellite will remain in the earth’s orbit for a year during which the satellite will be closely studied" and "Since it is a learning phase, the study of the satellite will help us in developing more advanced satellites in the future."[3]

Reception

Prime minister of Nepal Khadga Prasad Oli congratulated the scientists via Twitter by writing, "Though a humble beginning, with the launching of NepaliSat-1 Nepal has entered the Space-Era. I wish to congratulate all those scientists and institutions that were involved right from the development to its launching thereby enhancing the prestige of our country." [10] Suresh Kumar Dhungel, spokesman for Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), said, "...they invested in the satellite in a bid to open new paths for space engineering in the country."[10]

After the successful launch of this satellite another group of engineering graduates are currently working on another satellite named "Nepal PQ-1", prepared to launch in 2020.[11]

Specifications

Section source[12]

NepaliSat-1
  • Country: Nepal
  • Type: Cubesat
  • Type: 1u
  • Project Name: Bird-3
  • Organisation: University
  • Organisation: Kyushu Institute of Technology
  • Oneliner: Remote Data Collection based on low powered LoRa modulation for demonstration.

See also

References
  1. "Bird B, BTN, G, J, JPN, LKA, M, MYS, N, NPL, PHL (BRAC Onnesha, Bhutan 1, GhanaSat 1, Toki, Uguisu, Raavana 1, Mazaalai, UiTMSAT 1, EduSat 1, NepaliSat 1, MAYA 1)". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  2. "NepaliSat-1 to be launched tomorrow". The Himalayan Times. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  3. "Nepal's first ever satellite launched into space". kathmandupost.ekantipur.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  4. "Nepal's first ever satellite, NepaliSat-1, launched". TechSansar.com. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  5. "Nepal First Satellite Launched [BIRD-3 Project]". www.ourtechroom.com. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  6. 18 Apr, PTI | Updated; 2019; Ist, 12:06. "Nepal launches its first satellite from USA - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 April 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. "पहिलो चोटि नेपाली 'न्यानो स्याटलाइट' अन्तरिक्षमा". 18 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  8. "Nepal launches its first Satellite named Nepali Sat-1". NepaliTelecom. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  9. "नेपालले आफ्नो पहिलो भु-उपग्रह अमेरिकाबाट अन्तरिक्षमा पठाएको छ". The Quint. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  10. "Nepal launches its first satellite NepaliSat-1 from US". www.businesstoday.in. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  11. "Nepal's first ever satellite launched into space". www.msn.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  12. Kulu, Erik. "Nanosatellite & CubeSat Database". Nanosatellite & CubeSat Database. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
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