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TOMSK, Feb 29 – RIA Tomsk. Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) transferred the mini-satellite, which is planned to launch to the 120th anniversary in the spring of 2016, in the Rocket and Space Corporation (RSC) "Energy", where the device will be prepared for shipment to the cosmodrome Baikonur, the press-service of the university informed on Monday.
Earlier it was reported that in May, 2016 TPU celebrates 120 years from the date of its foundation. By the anniversary the university plans to launch into an orbit the small satellite, created with the use of the materials developed by TPU scientists. Tomsk satellite will be the world's first working spacecraft, some elements of which are 3D-printed.
"TPU satellite which is scheduled for launch from a board of the International Space Station (ISS) by the anniversary of the university, collected and transferred to RSC "Energy", where will host the final preparations for shipment to the cosmodrome Baikonur. Delivery of the satellite "Tomsk-TPU-120" on the ISS will be held on March 31st", – said in a statement.
© РИА Томск. Павел Стефанский
It is specified that ISS astronauts will launch Tomsk satellite during another spacewalk. The height of its orbit – is about 400 kilometers, the service life of the device will be, presumably, about half a year.
It was also reported that the satellite will help to test a number of researches of the university and its partners. In particular, ceramic material, which should protect the battery block from destroying temperature difference in space. Besides, it will transfer to the Earth a signal-congratulation from polytechnics, which can be caught by any radio amateur.