Mini satellite helps Macao students learn about space

The Long March 7 Y6 rocket, carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou 5, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in South China's Hainan province Nov 12, 2022. (Photo/Xinhua)

China recently deployed a mini satellite to a low-Earth orbit to help students in the Macao Special Administrative Region learn about spaceflight activities.

The 12-kilogram satellite, named Macao Student Science Satellite 1, was released into orbit by the Tianzhou 5 cargo spacecraft on Sunday, Ho Iat-seng, chief executive of the Macao SAR, announced on Tuesday as the region marked its 23rd birthday.

Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology in Beijing, the satellite was carried into space by the Tianzhou 5 on Nov 12. Before its orbital deployment on Sunday, the satellite was contained in the cargo ship.

The satellite is tasked with helping students in Macao learn about Earth imaging, radio communication and other spaceflight activities, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

Tianzhou 5 is now connected to the Tiangong space station, where it is storing propellants, materials for scientific experiments and astronauts' supplies.

The space agency said that to make the best use of the Tianzhou-series cargo ships' abundant carrying capacity, scientists have used them to transport several payloads of scientific equipment and mini satellites to orbit. It said future Tianzhou missions will also offer educational opportunities to researchers at home and abroad.