Andina

Peruvian nanosatellite launched into space in Russia

ANDINA

ANDINA

14:01 | Lima, Feb. 05 (ANDINA).

After many years of hard work on preparations, Peru’s National University of Engineering (UNI) has successfully launched its first nanosatellite into orbit. The "Chasqui 1" satellite was launched on Wednesday aboard the Russian-built Progress M-22M space shuttle that blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Russia at around 11:30 am (Peru time).

Progress M-22M will take Chasqui 1 to the International Space Station, where cosmonauts will put it into orbit in late March. The project has been underway since 2009 with an investment worth over US$631,000, financed from UNI's resources.

Chasqui I, which weighs approximately 1 kilogram and is equipped with solar panels, will be able to take photographs in space. It is intended to be used for educational and research purposes.

Three other Peruvian-made satellites were launched recently by academics from Peru’s Catholic University  and Universidad Alas Peruanas. The Catholic University’s PUCP-Sat1 and Pocket-PUCP were sent into space late last year from the Yasny Cosmodrome in Russia.

Meanwhile, the satellite made by students and faculty from Universidad Alas Peruviana, UAP SAT-1, was the first Peruvian satellite to be sent into space by NASA. It was launched on January 9, 2014.

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Published: 2/5/2014