Tiny but mighty, and mighty proud are those involved with the creation of ...

The first Thai satellite invented for educational purposes is set to be launched into space in August, said Suwat Kuntanapreeda, head of the "Knacksat" program. 

In this project, Bachelor, Master and PhD students are constructing a low-earth-orbit or LEO satellite which should take digital pictures of the Earth and send it via radio signals to the ground station at KMUTNB. The team consists of students and staffs from Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Department of Electrical and Software Systems Engineering, the Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering.  Photo from The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering

Knacksat is an acronym for KMUTNB Academic Challenge of Knowledge Satellite, said Prof Suwat, who is also head of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering of King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB). 

The tiny satellite, which is roughly 10x10x10cm in size and less than 1 kilogram (2.21pounds) in weight, will capture pictures of the globe from outer space at a resolution of 1 kilometer to 2km per pixel, Prof Suwat said.  It will orbit at a height of 600km (372.823 miles) from the Earth's surface, and cost only 9 million baht ($286,650 US) to design and build. The project received funding from the National Science and Technology Development Agency. 

The planned launch of Knacksat is a collaboration between KMUTNB and Synchroton Light Research Institute (SLRI), said Prof Suwat, adding that the satellite has already undergone vacuum testing to prove that it is ready for the mission. 

"This test was not only aimed at evaluating the satellite's efficiency but also at analyzing whether changes to its body mass [in orbit] will result in any adverse effects," he said. Knacksat will enter an orbit of 600km above Earth and, if the operation is successful, earn Thailand's vacuum technology international recognition, he said. 

Knacksat is a Thai pride because it is totally a Thai-made satellite, said Sarawut Sujitjorn, director of the SLRI. 

from Bangkok Post