Israel today said its first nanosatellite which was launched onboard ISRO's PSLV will help build "autonomous labs in microgravity that can function in space" and expedite necessary research for the food and medicine industry.
BGUSAT, weighing just about 5 kilogrammes is the result of a five year joint project between Ben-Gurion University (BGU) in the Negev, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd (IAI) and Israel's Ministry of Science, Technology and Space.
It is the first time an Israeli university will have access to data from an Israeli nanosatellite for research purposes, a joint statement by the three sponsors said after the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) successfully launched 104 satellites from Sriharikota.
The satellite, 10x10x30 centimetres, carries with it innovative cameras that can photograph a wide range of weather phenomena and a guidance system that allows operators to choose the areas to research through a dedicated ground station at BGU campus.
Researchers will also be able to position the satellite as per requirements to take a variety of pictures from different angles.
The satellites unique orbital path close to Earth's atmosphere will enable researchers at Ben Gurion and Tel Aviv universities to study scientific phenomena such as Earth's airglow layer.
Researchers will be able to track atmospheric gases like CO2in order to understand climate change, to examine changes in ground moisture that could be an indicator of desertification and affect agricultural development, and to monitor plant development in different regions.
A project from Tel Aviv University is among one of the four experiments included on the SpacePharma nanosatellite, a Swiss-based project launched in the same rocket, Times of Israel reported.
The main purpose of the SpacePharma experiment is to test and demonstrate ways for building "autonomous labs in microgravity that can function in space," Israel Space Agency (ISA) Director General, Avi Blasberger said.
"The ability to conduct autonomous experiments that don't require a space-based human crew could immensely lower costs for such experiments, and so expedite research that is essential for the food and medicine industries", Blasberger said.
Nanosatellites have today become a feasible option because of improved technology and lower costs compared to the traditional several tonne devices.
The ISA Director General noted that it will take few more days to determine with certainty that the Israeli satellite was functioning correctly, and as much as a few weeks to be sure about the experiments carried by the Israeli and SpacePharma satellites.
Israel had also launched its TECSAR satellite, described by many as a spy satellite to keep an eye on the Jewish state's hostile neighbours, onboard India's PSLV. This signals close cooperation between the space agencies of the two countries.
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