Mauritius’ first satellite, the Mauritius Imagery and Radiotelecommunication Satellite 1 has deployed from the International Space Station today, 22nd of June 2021 at 12:56CEST. It deployed from the Japanese Experiment Module (Kibo) “KiboCUBE” on the ISS. 

Mauritius successfully launched the MIR-SAT 1 on Thursday, 3rd of June 2021. The CubeSat subsequently launched onboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (Mission: CRS-22/SpX-22) from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The satellite had consequently resided in the Space Station pending its deployment. A team of researchers at the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) built MIR-SAT1.  The local Amateur Radio Society also supported it in collaboration with experts from AAC-Clyde Space UK. Mauritius was the winner of the 3rd round UNOOSA/JAXA KiboCube Programme in 2018. Thus, JAXA awarded Mauritius the opportunity to build and deploy a 1U Cube Satellite through the International Space Station (ISS).

The primary objective of the MIR-SAT1 is to acquire satellite technology through the design process, design review, assembly, integration and testing. In parallel, the MRIC has set up a ground station located at its premises in Ebene, which will serve to control and operate the MIR-SAT1. This Ground station will also allow the receipt of data and telemetry from other satellites. The Ground Station possesses a ‘FlatSat’ module, a replica of the 1U. This will enable engineers simulate all required manoeuvres before sending the command to the CubeSat. The FlatSat Module is a key tool for the Mauritian Engineers to design future CubeSats after the MIR-SAT1.