A nanosatellite developed at the Federal University of Maranh\u00e3o (UFMA), with support from the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), may assist coastal authorities in search and rescue operations for small fishing boats in distress. The device, a standard 1U CubeSat with a cubic shape measuring 10 centimeters per side, will also be used to detect wildfires.<\/p>\n
Five years after the project began, the satellite\u2014named Aldebaran-I\u2014underwent final testing in January. \u201cOne of the key tests was vibration, which ensures the satellite can withstand the extreme launch conditions,\u201d says aeronautical engineer Carlos Alberto Brito Rios Junior, professor of aerospace engineering at UFMA and the project\u2019s coordinator. \u201cThe satellite is now ready to be shipped to India, where it will be launched into orbit.\u201d The launch is scheduled for June.<\/p>\n
The name Aldebaran-I refers to the brightest star in the constellation Taurus. \u201cThe word has Arabic roots and means \u2018the follower,\u2019 which relates to the satellite\u2019s mission. At the same time, some say Aldebaran is the star that sits on the forehead of the ox\u2014the central figure in Maranh\u00e3o State\u2019s most traditional festival, Bumba Meu Boi<\/em>,\u201d explains Brito.<\/p>\n The project is part of an initiative under the National Space Activities Program, which focuses on developing academic nanosatellites\u2014low-cost devices with shorter development cycles. \u201cWe have several satellite projects underway in Brazil, some led by government research centers, others by private companies, and a group being developed by universities,\u201d says Rodrigo Leonardi, Portfolio Management Director at AEB. In addition to advancing technological development, Leonardi notes that the nanosatellite program is also intended to train skilled professionals for the space sector and build technical capacity within Brazilian universities.<\/p>\n These nanosatellites serve a range of purposes, including Earth observation, scientific research, and the development of new space technologies. \u201cNanosatellites and CubeSats were originally created for educational purposes,\u201d notes a 2020 article by researchers from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), published in the journal Ambiente & \u00c1gua<\/em>. \u201cAlthough still in the early stages, nanosatellite applications and proposed missions are expanding.\u201d<\/p>\n UFMA\u2019s nanosatellite serves as a proof of concept. Its mission is to validate a new technology. Small fishing boats will be equipped with a transmission system that sends their location data to the satellite. \u201cThese signals will be relayed to a ground station, which will then dispatch an emergency alert to rescue services,\u201d explains Dr. Lu\u00eds Claudio de Oliveira Silva, an engineer and head of UFMA\u2019s Laboratory of Electronics and Embedded Space Systems (LABESEE), where the project was developed.<\/p>\n For fire prevention, data collection platforms installed in forested areas will transmit information to the satellite, which will then forward it to a ground station. \u201cAn AI-based system will analyze the data to detect potential fire indicators,\u201d explains Silva.<\/p>\n If Aldebaran-I proves successful, building a constellation of nanosatellites will be essential to fully implement the rescue and fire monitoring services. \u201cOnly with a constellation can we ensure continuous satellite coverage over Brazil,\u201d says Leonardi. \u201cWe\u2019re exploring the development of small satellite constellations. If this proof of concept succeeds, it could lead to a system of this kind.\u201d<\/p>\n