Final tests for Polish satellite Hevelius
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
01.07.2014 09:52
Final tests are being carried out on Polish satellite Hevelius, which is due to be sent into space from China on 19 August.
Engineer Waldemar Bujwan presents Polish satellite Hevelius in Warsaw. Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell
Members of the international programme BRIght Target Explorer Constellation (BRITE), gave the press a sneak preview of the galactic gadget in Warsaw on Monday.
The satellite takes its name from 17th century astronomer Joannes Hevelius, and it was originally supposed to have been dispatched in December 2013.
However, a Brazilian satellite similar to Hevelius crash-landed in Antartica after problems with the Chinese rocket that launched it, prompting a delay for the Polish project.
Hevelius is one of two Polish satellites in the BRITE programme, and it was developed by specialists from the Space Research Centre PAS and the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre.
The first Polish satellite, Lem, which is named after the late science fiction writer, has been circling the earth since November 2013.
The task of both satellites is to carry out detailed measurements of the 286 brightest stars. (nh)
Source: PAP