Hundreds of post-secondary students in New Brunswick are patiently waiting for the call from Satellite Violet. The student-created project took more than five years to develop on campuses across the province and is not communicating as expected.
The satellite was delivered to the International Space Station by a rocket in early March and sent into Earth orbit on April 18. Satellite Violet, named after the provincial flower, is the first New Brunswick-built satellite to be sent into space.
While long-distance calls are not being answered, Troy Lavigne, one of the program’s project officers, said it is no “big” surprise that the satellite did not respond immediately.
“There are quite complex systems in place for us to communicate with Violet,” he said.
The bread-loaf-sized satellite was a joint effort between more than 300 students and faculty from the University of New Brunswick, Université de Moncton and New Brunswick Community College as part of the larger Canadian CubeSat project, which spans across 15 academic Institutions were included. The country is making satellites
Lavigne said that Violet’s isolated behavior could be explained by her antennae not yet deploying. If this is the case, the fishing wire that is holding the antenna in place is expected to melt within a few weeks.
“We chose that fishing line because we know it will naturally degrade after a few weeks in outer space…then we will be able to communicate with Violet,” he explained.
The project aims to spend three months to two years studying and collecting data around the uppermost part of Earth’s atmosphere, known as the ionosphere.
Lavigne said some identified issues at a newly constructed ground station in New Brunswick may have also played a role, which have since been resolved.
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“We have received radio receptions from other satellites, so we are working on the possibility that we are sending a command to Violet but we are not able to get (a response),” he said.
If the satellite’s radio silence is not caused by any of the scenarios mentioned, one option remains that could result in Violet eventually sending information back to Earth – or abruptly ending its long-awaited journey into outer space.
Researchers hope Violet will yield information about the ionosphere, where “ultraviolet light and X-ray solar radiation free electrons from their atomic and molecular bonds and leave behind ions,” as explained in a UNB release. Has gone.
Anna Mandin/Global News
“If the antenna is stored, (the information) will not be transmitted because it is damaged,” Lavigne said, adding that a secondary “transmit whether the antenna is deployed” command can be sent after waiting a few more weeks.
“Although this may cause harm to Violet, it is a risk we are willing to take rather than knowing if Violet is ever able to respond. We will do this only after a few weeks have passed and we have decided that it is worth the risk.
Despite the initial lack of communication so far, Lavigne said her team is not giving up.
“Violet could have been damaged and never responded. We’re hoping that doesn’t happen and we’re working on all those possibilities.”
Either way, he said the project will be considered a resounding success, as the goal was always to adequately prepare the next generation of space industry professionals for careers within the field.
student remains hopeful
Samiha Lubaba, a master’s student at the University of New Brunswick, was recruited to the Violet team in August 2023 and is still assisting with communications efforts on the ground.
Although everything appeared to respond accordingly when Violet was still in the team’s possession on Earth, Lubaba said troubleshooting is a more complicated process once the satellite is hovering above it.
“There are a lot of things involved in communication,” he said, adding that his team would continue to try despite not getting the expected response.
Although the lack of communication is stressful, Lubaba said his team of researchers still has about “seven or eight” alternative solutions that could result in Violet transmitting the first bit of data that the ground station crew would be too busy to hear. Is curious.
“I’m confident it will work,” she said. “Maybe it’s taking some time, but I’m not disappointed. “Maybe it will take two weeks, three weeks or more.”
If the Violet crew is able to overcome the communication dilemma and contact their orbiting friend, Lubaba said she would be greatly relieved.
– With files from Anna Mandin
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