Launch Success! Student Satellite 'Scorpion' of the Space-π Project, Featuring SINP MSU Payload, Deployed into Orbit
A historic launch has taken place!
Today, December 28, the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle successfully lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, carrying the "Scorpion" cubesat, a spacecraft developed with the participation of scientists from the SINP MSU.
At 16:18, it embarked on its first space flight. This is the culmination of months of work by the team. "Scorpion" represents a new level for domestic small satellites:
16U format: The largest cubesat in our lineup and one of the biggest in Russia.
Unique science: Onboard is a complex of scientific instruments, with a research scope comparable to major satellite missions like "Lomonosov".
The main objectives of "Scorpion" in orbit:
To scan radiation: Measure the levels of cosmic radiation around Earth to understand its impact on technology and future missions.
To search for correlations between phenomena: Simultaneously analyze light flashes, gamma rays, and charged particles to study the mysteries of the Universe.
To test how space conditions affect biological samples and refine methods for searching for potential signs of life.
This launch is a crucial milestone for Moscow State University, the Space-Pi educational project, and the nationwide "School Cosmos" program, under which "Scorpion" was created.
We are demonstrating that advanced space technologies and research are within reach for young engineers and scientists.