Tension is mounting among students involved in the SSETI Programme as only one day now remains to the launch, by a Kosmos 3M rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, of the student-built satellite – SSETI Express.
The last few weeks particularly have been an emotional roller coaster ride for the 15 teams of university students involved, particularly for the campaign team at Plesetsk in Russia, as they prepare SSETI Express for launch.
On 8 September the team arrived in Russia and then proceeded to successfully carry out all the checks and tests needed to ensure SSETI Express is ready for launch. Unfortunately, one of the other four spacecraft 'hitching a ride' on the Kosmos 3M rocket encountered a few problems so the launch had to be delayed.
"We know this delay is frustrating – but we are all sure that in the end SSETI Express and its passengers will launch," said campaign-team member, Jorg Schaefer.
Together with the rest of the disappointed campaign team Jorg returned home on 27 September to await a new launch date, leaving SSETI Express safely in its transport container almost ready to go, with batteries fully charged and the propulsion tank filled.
Learning as you go
SSETI students have had to learn the hard way that working in the space business requires more than scientific and engineering skills. Other essential qualities include patience – lots of it – and attention to detail.
Space is still a risky business. This means checking and rechecking to ensure that everything that can be done is done to ensure a successful launch. At the slightest hint of a problem, whether in the launcher or the spacecraft, a launch is stopped until everyone concerned is as certain as it is humanly possible to be that everything is working correctly.
Launch now imminent
