Although the Polish Space Agency - POLSA has been just created, the Poles have already achieved several important successes in the area of space research and exploration. Polish detectors for instance examine the surface of Mars, the satellites measure the brightness of stars and the hammer-like apparatus called MUPUS soon will bite into the surface of the comet P67 under Rosetta mission.
Throughout the entire August of 2012 the scientific eyes of the world have been all looking toward Mars, where Curiosity rover landed with the purpose to investigate the chemical composition of the Red Planet, record climatic conditions and most of all look for water.
Infrared Detectors.
Executiing all these tasks would not have been possible without … yes - the Polish infrared detectors contracted by NASA at the Polish company called Vigo Systems SA from the city of Ożarów Mazowiecki.
The task these detectors play on the mission is crucial, because they are responsible for detecting the infrared radiation generated by the sample taken by the rover. Thanks to that, researchers can verify what elements and molecules compose the samples of the Martian soil. "Without this detector such studies could not have been performed" - emphasizes in an interview with the Polish Press Agency, Eng. Maciej Ochocki from Vigo Systems SA.
But how did it happen that the Polish detectors have flown to Mars?
"NASA made inquiries amongst the leading manufacturers of such detectors around the world by sending their test samples for verifying by the manufacturer. Based on results returned, they have selected those companies who were simply the best and that means us" - described Mr. Ochocki.
Polish scientific satellite.
In the orbit above the Earth two Polish scientific satellites called Lem and Hovels are operating. Placed at a height of 800 km for a few years already, these small so called nano-satellites do conduct precise measurements of 286 brightest stars. They weigh less than 7 kg and have a cube shape with a side length measuring approx. 20 cm. So far such small devices have been used only for amateur and educational purposes.
First in space was however a Polish cube satellite Lem. It was launched in November 2013 from Russia. Second in order was Hevelius launched just this August 2014 from China. Both Polish satellites are part of the Austro-Canadian-Polish project called Brite. Brite has did a lot to Polish space exploration. Thanks to it and the successful deployment of all launched satellites, we all started to believe that we can seriously think about building genuine Polish satellites - says Dr Piotr Orleański from the Space Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland (Centrum Badań Kosmicznych PAN, http://www.cbk.waw.pl).
Lem and Hevelius was developed in cooperation between specialists from the Space Research Centre and the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland (Centrum Astronomiczne im. Mikołaja Kopernika PAN, https://www.camk.edu.pl). Collaborators from the University of Vienna, Graz University of Technology, the University of Toronto and the University of Montreal were also significantly contributing to this projects and the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education allocated for the construction of these satellites 14.2 million PLN (3.4 mln Euro). The public was also engaged in the process by participating in an online survey/vote for naming the satellites.
Mission PW-Sat.
While Lem and Hevelius are the first Polish scientific satellites, the pioneering trails in space were made by the satellite called PW-Sat build entirely by Polish students associated at the Club of Astronautics and Cosmic Engineering at the Warsaw University of Technology (Studenckie Koło Astronautycznym i Studenckim Kole Inżynierii Kosmicznej, http://ska.meil.pw.edu.pl/pwsat_blog_pl/?page_id=10) together with researchers from the Space Research Centre. PW-Sat was launched in February 2012. Upon reaching the orbit the satellite has deployed an experimental design - a meter-long tail. It acted as a sort of "cosmic brake" and had a purpose to accelerate the process of satellite descending from the orbit into the atmosphere. This technology could help to educe the number of dangerous space debris, which is growing steadily on different orbits every year.
Mission of PW-Sat did not go however very well because of a design flaw preventing the satellite to receive commands sent from Earth. It was not possible to order the satellite to open the tail and begin the experiment. Regardless of the outcome students of the Warsaw University of Technology have already started working on the PA-Sat successor named: PW-Sat2 (from Politechnika Warszawska - Satelita 2). This second satellite will again test the possibility of overcoming the problem of space debris and it will be two times larger than its predecessor.
Straight to the comet.
In November 2014 on the surface of the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko Philae lander of the Rosetta probe will land. During this mission testing the comet's structure and composition, a key role will be played by a Polish instrument called - MUPUS. This Multi-Purpose Instrument for Measuring Physical Properties of the Comet's Nucleus has been built by the Space Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences.
MUPUS is one of the most important and the most technologically advanced tools, which Rosette probe is equipped with. It contains thermometers, infrared sensor and assessor-meter. It also consists of two harpoons, which will maintain the Rosetta lander (Philae) on the surface upond touch down due to the very low gravity. MUPUS weighs about 1.5 kilograms and uses only 3 watts of power.
Other Polish space projects are under development.
This is a translation of an article by Ms. Ewelina Krajczyńska (PAP, http://naukawpolsce.pap.pl)
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