The F-1 satellite has not yet signaled

The charging circuit of the F-1 satellite had a problem, so it was not supplied with energy from the solar panel, and this could have caused it to not signal the earth after nearly a month of being put into space.

Vietnam's first homemade satellite left the International Space Station (ISS) on October 4. A month passed, the FSpace Space Research Department of FPT University, where satellites are manufactured, has yet to receive signals of F-1. According to the plan, only 30 minutes after being released into space, the satellite has to mount the antenna and start signaling to the earth.

The FSpace announcement last night cited Mr. Vu Trong Thu, FSpace Manager, as soon as the satellite was released from ISS, the group's ground station in Hanoi and many other radio stations around the world tried. listen to the F-1 signal."So far we have not received any signal except a few reports of hearing a weak signal on the F-1 frequency in the first few days , " Mr. Thu said.

It was initially thought that the satellite's charging circuit might be in trouble, making it only enough energy to operate for the first few days and then unable to replenish energy from the solar panels.

Photographs by astronauts take 3 small satellites as soon as possible
released from ISS on October 4, F-1 in the middle. (Photos provided by FSpace)

Vietnam's satellite is orbiting the earth with an average altitude of 405 km and is monitored by the North American Space Defense Command (NORAD).

The average elevation of the F-1 decreases daily due to friction with the atmosphere. It is estimated that satellites will exist in orbit about 5 months (until March 2013) before falling low and igniting in the atmosphere.

FSpace is still working with US partner NanoRacks to collect information, analyze possible situations and experiment with EM engineering model (copy of F-1) in the lab to try to understand the whole multiplication problem.

"The group will also try to send commands to the F-1 to restart the satellite's microcontroller, but we have determined that the ability to receive F-1 signals is very low," he added. "Although no signal has been obtained from F-1, but through the process of project implementation, we have gained more knowledge and valuable experience in satellite manufacturing. That will be the foundation for FSpace to continue to follow. chasing technology research in the future ".

With the desire to apply space technology to national defense and security, FSpace is researching new ways such as using small satellite beams to monitor ships, prevent oil theft and support search and rescue. victims.

Vietnam's self-made satellite was introduced into the space on July 21 on a transport ship from the Japanese Tanegashima Space Center. The F-1 carries a miniature Vietnamese flag, the memory card contains the names and messages of more than 7,500 people and some anniversary songs.

The mission of F-1 is to 'live' in space and signal the ground control station, capture the low-resolution (640x480) images of the earth and the speed of data transmission from satellites to 1,200 bit per second.

The F-1 satellite manufacturing project was launched four years ago thanks to the help of FPT Corporation, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the International Space Federation (IAF), the Office of Inter-Space Problems. United Nations (UNOOSA) with many domestic and foreign organizations and individuals.

The F-1 event released into space added a milestone for Vietnam's fledgling space science and industry, step by step mastering the process of manufacturing small satellites, serving demand socio-economic development and national security.