Mauritius’ first satellite, the Mauritius Imagery and Radiotelecommunication Satellite 1 will deploy from the International Space Station tomorrow, 22nd of June 2021 at 12:35CEST. You can follow the deployment here.
Mauritius successfully launched the MIR-SAT 1 on Thursday, 3rd of June 2021. The CubeSat subsequently launched onboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (Mission: CRS-22/SpX-22) from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The satellite has consequently resided in the Space Station pending its deployment. It will subsequently be deployed from the Japanese Experiment Module (Kibo) “KiboCUBE” on the ISS.
A team of researchers at the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) built MIR-SAT1. The local Amateur Radio Society also supported it in collaboration with experts from AAC-Clyde Space UK. Mauritius was the winner of the 3rd round UNOOSA/JAXA KiboCube Programme in 2018. Thus, JAXA awarded Mauritius the opportunity to build and deploy a 1U Cube Satellite through the International Space Station (ISS).
The primary objective of the MIR-SAT1 is to acquire satellite technology through the design process, design review, assembly, integration and testing. In parallel, the MRIC has set up a ground station located at its premises in Ebene, which will serve to control and operate the MIR-SAT1. This Ground station will also allow the receipt of data and telemetry from other satellites. The Ground Station possesses a ‘FlatSat’ module, a replica of the 1U. This will enable engineers simulate all required manoeuvres before sending the command to the CubeSat. The FlatSat Module is a key tool for the Mauritian Engineers to design future CubeSats after the MIR-SAT1.
Faleti Joshua is an avid lover of space in all its incomprehensible nature. He holds both an LL.B and a B.L degree. Joshua is a lover of music and a lawyer in his free time.
