On October 14, 2021, the LM-2D rocket was launched successfully at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, sending the APSCO Student Small Satellite (SSS-2A), a satellite developed independently by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, into orbit. The satellite brought  SJTUers’ unswerving ideal of advancing China’s aerospace program into space. This event marks the 100th launching mission at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center located in Shanxi, China.

SSS-2A is SJTU’s first satellite whose development and load design were dominated by students, where 80% of the contribution were from students. The team is from the Intelligent Satellite Technology Center of SJTU School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, an innovative research base that was established and led by Prof. Wu Shufan (corresponding academician of the International Academy of Astronautics) and mainly focuses on intelligent satellite technology and large-scale constellation on-orbit mission planning. SSS-2A will, with functions to automatically collect information of the surface ships and carry out new technology verification of inter-satellite self-organizing communication in space. The satellite shows prominence in several aspects: it weighs only 3.7 kilograms; its integrated design breaks the energy limitation of Cube Star, and its high reliability.

The launching of the rocket and satellite boosted our confidence to continue exploring the secrets of the vast universe. SJTU students are ready for more wonderful journeys into space.

Author: Gu Yi, Bai Yunfan, and Wei Siji

Source: Communist Youth League SJTU Committee；School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, SJTU