GALLERY ⟩ ESTCube-2 is in Earth orbit. Signals from the first overflights over Estonia have not yet reached Tõraver

Since then, the University of Tartu Observatory in Tõveres was also waiting for a new beginning, and now last night everyone was awake and connected to the premises via a video bridge.

No one slept last night in the observatory of the University of Tartu in Tõveres. Photo: Laila Kaasik

Meanwhile, two members of the team had managed to return to Estonia from French Guiana in South America, as plane tickets had been purchased for the day after the originally scheduled departure. According to the first plan, the start could have taken place as early as October 5th.

Electronics engineer Michelle Lukken, already returned directly from the Kourou Space Center. Photo: Laila Kaasik

The first flyby over Estonia, when the satellite signal could have reached the observatory at the University of Tartu, occurred around ten o’clock on October 9th. The signal was not received the first time.

The next opportunity to catch this signal is around 11:30.

According to Marja-Liisa Plats, head of communications at the Tartu Observatory, ESTCube-2 makes 15 orbits around the Earth per day, but 8 to 10 of them also pass over Estonia. At these moments, the time window available to researchers to capture the signal is approximately seven minutes.

In the next flyby, EstCube-2 will be a little closer to Estonia and this possibility is higher, he added. If it doesn’t work then, for example, the satellite could have a flat battery and therefore you have to wait for the battery to recharge.

The ESTCube-2 team at the Kourou Space Center a few days ago before the launch was postponed. Opposite is Antti Tamm, director of the Tartu Observatory. Behind him (from left to right) are computer engineer Kirill Anohin, electronics engineer Karl Mattias Moor, mechanical engineer Sergei Kuzmin, system engineer Janis Dalbinš, electronics engineer Michelle Lukken, project manager Hans Teras, computer engineer Laur Edvard Lindmaa, mission control developer Kevin Behind Wirth, in front system engineer Kristo Allaje. Photo: Private collection

“However, the team is proud, because years of work have overcome the crossfire of reaching orbit,” project manager Hans Teras said in the morning. “But that doesn’t mean we can start resting now. Someone also has to control the orbiting satellite and conduct scientific experiments with it. But first we have to wait for the first signal: it should arrive at 11:30.”

2024-01-06 17:20:00
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