The developments created at the competence center could be on the road within three to five years.Continue reading
The MRC-100 satellite was launched in the Transporter 8 mission of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket on June 12, 2023 at 11:35 pm Hungarian time from the Vandenberg Space Center in California (USA), the Budapest University of Technology (BME) announced – reports Magyar Nemzet.
In the 80th minute after the rocket lift-off, the ION SCV-011 spacecraft, which also carries the BME satellite, successfully separated from the payload. The Italian company D-Orbit’s satellite platform will launch the fifth BME small satellite into orbit in seven days at the earliest.
Once in orbit, the MRC-100 will have to wait for its battery to recharge, as it has been depleted since its delivery and installation in the larger satellite in December.
Once it collects sufficient power from solar panels to power the satellite, its systems will be switched on and it will begin transmitting, estimated to happen within 7-14 days.
The MRC-100 satellite, named in honor of the centenary of the BME Radio Club (Műegyetemi Rádió Club), is ready for reception and control at the ground stations (the roof of BME’s Building E, and Érd). In addition, many of the world’s amateur radio stations will be waiting for the satellite’s signals and transmitting them to the developers. The team will provide news and developments on the MRC-100 small satellite on the spacecraft website.
Photo: Facebook/Budapesti Műszaki és Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem
Transporter-8 is SpaceX’s eighth mission to launch small satellites into orbit. In total, 72 spacecraft have been launched, including CubeSats (such as MaSat-1, the first Hungarian satellite), microsatellites, a re-entry vehicle, and satellite platforms that launch smaller spacecraft.
The University of Technology’s development team currently has the largest number of successful PocketQube missions in the world.
BME has been involved in space exploration and space technology activities for decades, with the launch of the MRC-100 and its space mission being another important milestone.
BME, under the leadership of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, in cooperation with the Faculties of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Transport Engineering, and Vehicle Engineering, and that of Natural Sciences, has also launched a unique Master’s program in space engineering in 2022, according to the university.
Via Magyar Nemzet; Featured photo via Facebook/Budapesti Műszaki és Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem