In 2024, an extraordinary passenger—Octo-Pax—launched into space aboard the CubeSat ArcticSat-1.
🚀 Let’s travel back in time to July 2024
Developed under the Space Pi project in collaboration with Northern (Arctic) Federal University (NArFU), the 3U CubeSat ArcticSat-1 was designed to study the effects of space weather on spacecraft systems in Earth’s polar regions.
Among its scientific payloads was DeKoR-2, a cosmic radiation detector developed with the expertise of scientists from the Radiation Monitoring Laboratory at SINP MSU. This instrument detects X-ray photons, gamma rays, and electrons, contributing to vital space environment research.
But here’s the fascinating part: ArcticSat-1 also carried an art object—Octo-Pax, a 3D-printed octopus sculpture created by Russian artist Nastya Miro. Made from AK9ch, a durable Russian composite resistant to space conditions, it was produced by AO "CTK AT" and LLC "3D IR" (Voronezh) with support from the Foundation for Assistance to Innovation.
🚀 Now, fast-forward to the present
On April 20, 2025, Soyuz MS-26 returned to Earth with not only its crew but also a special passenger—the backup Octo-Pax. After spending time aboard the ISS, where it endured microgravity and even collected astronaut autographs on one of its tentacles, the octopus proved its resilience ahead of its independent mission on ArcticSat-1.
This mission is part of "Octonautics", a project by the Foundation for Assistance to Innovation in partnership with Roscosmos, blending science and art. Just as octopuses protect marine ecosystems, Octo-Pax serves as a symbol for space debris awareness, reminding humanity of the urgent need to preserve Earth’s orbital environment.
While the "Octopuses" art campaign draws public attention to modern challenges, scientists and engineers at SINP MSU’s Radiation Monitoring Laboratory continue pioneering cutting-edge technologies. They develop high-precision instruments and satellites to monitor near-Earth space, unravel cosmic mysteries, and seek answers to the fundamental questions of tomorrow.
Together, we strive for new discoveries, enhanced safety, and the advancement of humanity among the stars. ⋆｡ﾟ🪐｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
