In a landmark moment for international academic collaboration, students from Chinese and Russian universities successfully launched a microsatellite on Tuesday morning from Blagoveshchensk, Russia. The 15.7-kilogram CubeSat, developed jointly, marks the first such enterprise by university students from both nations.
The satellite serves multiple functions, including the verification of micro-nano satellite technology, supporting amateur radio experiments, and enhancing space science education. According to the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), a leading institution in the project, the initiative exemplifies the power of cross-border educational partnerships.
“This project brings together resources and expertise from both countries,” said Cao Jian, deputy director of HIT’s international cooperation department. “By collaborating with Amur State University, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, we’ve fostered not just technological advancement but also cultural exchange among our youth.”
More than 50 students participated in the project’s various stages, many of whom were undergraduates when they began. The students were granted substantial independence in project management and technical decisions, with universities providing resources and faculty advisors.
“Our team was given full autonomy over technical decisions, command, and management,” remarked Zhang Jiyao, a doctoral student at HIT’s School of Astronautics. “The support from our advisors and the access to ample resources allowed us to innovate and learn beyond the classroom.”
For undergraduates like Fang Kangbo from HIT’s School of Electronic and Information Technology, the hands-on experience was invaluable. “Standing at the launch site and counting down to liftoff, I felt the theories I’d learned in class coming to life,” Fang shared. “From ensuring each command was executed precisely to monitoring telemetry data, the communication system was vital at every stage.”
The successful launch is not only a technological achievement but also a symbol of growing cooperation in higher education between China and Russia. The project aims to continue promoting such collaborations, paving the way for future innovations led by young minds.
Reference(s):
First microsatellite by Chinese, Russian university students launched
cgtn.com
