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Dresden / Cape Canaveral (dpa / sn) - The space technicians of the TU Dresden have to be patient: The launch of the US SpaceX rocket, which is supposed to bring the research satellite “SOMP2b” into space, was postponed again on Saturday.
The reason was the weather in Cape Canaveral in Florida, said Tino Schmiel from the Institute for Aerospace Technology at the German Press Agency.
A new attempt is planned for Sunday afternoon.
The rocket was actually supposed to take off on Friday, but the launch had been postponed there too.
With “SOMP2b”, the Dresden scientists want to carry out various experiments and test new so-called nanomaterials under the conditions of space.
The researchers had satellites at the start in the past - the current mini satellite was, according to the information, constructed in a new design.
It is said to orbit the earth at an altitude of about 500 kilometers for several years.
When flying over Dresden, measurement data should be sent to the ground station every day.
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The satellite is only 20 by 10 by 10 centimeters and, according to the information, weighs less than 2 kilograms.
“We have miniaturized almost all the functions of a satellite so that they can be accommodated in just one side wall,” explained Schmiel.
"This creates space for more scientific experiments."
The investigations in orbit should help to develop novel protective films against electromagnetic radiation in motor vehicles or in medical technology.
“SOMP2b” is also a training project that is financed by the German Aerospace Center.
Many students are involved in the development of the satellite and the experiments.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210123-99-142493 / 2