It will be used to record ecological changes on Earth
Jermyn Chow Straits Times 21 Apr 11;
LIFT-OFF, finally. Singapore's first locally built satellite has officially been launched into space.
Riding on a rocket owned by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), the micro-satellite X-Sat blasted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India yesterday, more than four years late.
The 105kg fridge-size satellite, which will be used to take photographs to measure soil erosion and environmental changes on Earth, was one of three riding on Isro's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C16). The other two were built by India and Russia.
Yesterday's launch, at 12.42pm Singapore time, was PSLV's 18th successful lift-off since its maiden flight in 1994. Only two launches have failed.
X-Sat is designed and built from scratch by scientists and engineers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore's defence research body DSO National Laboratories.
Now in orbit, X-Sat is establishing communication contact with ground control in NTU, a process likely to take up to a week. Once contact has been made, an 'initial health status of the satellite will be ascertained and confirmed', said an NTU spokesman.
This includes checking its solar panels and communication systems and the Korean-made camera, dubbed Iris, that can capture forest fires and sea pollution.
It will then relay data and beam images back to the National University of Singapore's Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing.
With the successful launch of X-Sat, Singapore is one of the first countries in South-east Asia to have its own satellite in space. Previous satellite launches by the Republic involved construction efforts by foreign companies.
The launch capped more than nine years of hard work by scientists and engineers. Experts say the series of starts and stops had sent the cost of X-Sat from $10 million to more than $40 million.
NTU president Su Guaning congratulated the team, and said the launch represents 'a huge leap' in Singapore's efforts to build space technology. He added that he hopes X-Sat's launch will 'excite and inspire' more youth to take up engineering and venture into space technology.
Other countries with more established space programmes such as China, the United States and Israel launch more sophisticated satellites weighing between 500kg and 1,000kg every year. While X-Sat is small, space analysts say its launch is a credible effort by Singapore.
But defence analyst Bernard Loo of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies does not see a 'strategic need' for Singapore to have its own space programme yet.
'Singapore's strategic space is so small, there is no need for such sophisticated technology for early warning of an impending attack,' he said.
Singapore's satellite capability gains traction with successful launch
Lois Calderon Channel NewsAsia 20 Apr 11;
SINGAPORE: Singapore has not yet joined the space programme bandwagon but its satellite capability is certainly gaining traction.
The Nanyang Technological University has confirmed India's successful launch into space of Singapore's first locally built micro-satellite on Wednesday.
University officials said the move did not signify any advanced space programme ambition. Rather, it was a testament to Singapore's enhanced satellite operations.
The micro-satellite, named X-SAT, was one of the three that lifted off on board India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C16 at 12.42 pm Singapore time on Wednesday.
The three satellites, which were launched into orbit 18 minutes after the rocket blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre launch pad in India, were meant to help scientists study and help manage natural resources.
"We are delighted with the successful launch of Singapore's first experimental micro-satellite into space. This represents a huge leap for our local research and development endeavours in space technology and building micro-satellites," said NTU President Su Guaning.
"The sky is not the limit. There are enormous amounts in the world of science and technology that have not been explored and our academics are continually exploring and pushing the boundaries," he added.
NTU began its work on the X-SAT project in 2003 with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) providing design consultancy, supply of solar and structural panels, as well as environmental testing and the launch.
An NTU spokesperson said the wholly made-in-Singapore satellite will orbit for three years at a height of 800 kilometres and take photographs that will help scientists to measure soil erosion and environmental changes.
NTU Provost-Designate Freddy Boey said more projects are in the pipeline, primarily the manufacturing of nano- and pico-satellites. The ultimate objective is to have a "constellation" of satellites launched into space with the help of other foreign space agencies, including India's ISRO.
"The challenge is to make the satellite smaller but doing the same functions or even more...we don't have ambitions of launching capability," Mr Boey told Channel NewsAsia.
India, competing with other Asian nations such as China, Japan, and South Korea, is aiming to tap the global satellite-launch industry. The country plans to develop a reusable launch vehicle to cut costs. It is also planning a US$2.5 billion mission to the moon by 2015.
-CNA/ac
Singapore-made satellite sent into space
Lois Calderon Today Online 21 Apr 11;
SINGAPORE - The Republic has not yet joined the space programme bandwagon but its satellite capability is certainly gaining traction.
The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has confirmed India's successful launch into space of Singapore's first locally-built micro-satellite yesterday.
University officials said the move did not signify any advanced space programme ambition. Rather, it was a testament to Singapore's enhanced satellite operations.
The micro-satellite, named X-SAT, was one of the three that lifted off on board India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C16 at 12.42 pm (Singapore time).
The three satellites, which were launched into orbit 18 minutes after the rocket blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India, are meant to help scientists study and manage natural resources.
"We are delighted with the successful launch of Singapore's first experimental micro-satellite into space. This represents a huge leap for our local research and development endeavours in space technology and building micro-satellites," said NTU president Su Guaning.
NTU began its work on the X-SAT project in 2003 with the Indian Space Research Organisation, providing design consultancy, supply of solar and structural panels, as well as environmental testing and the launch.
An NTU spokesperson said the wholly made-in-Singapore satellite will orbit for three years at a height of 800km and take photographs that will help scientists to measure soil erosion and environmental changes.
NTU provost-designate Freddy Boey said more projects are in the pipeline, primarily the manufacturing of nano- and pico-satellites. The ultimate objective is to have a "constellation" of satellites launched into space with the help of foreign space agencies.
"The challenge is to make the satellite smaller but doing the same functions or even more ... We don't have ambitions of launching capability," Mr Boey told MediaCorp. Lois Calderon
