MEPhI: Svarog-1 Sputnik

Main article: Space satellites of countries of the world

2025: The start of a space satellite to explore gamma-ray bursts from the depths of the universes

At the National Research Nuclear University MEPHI"," work began on the creation of a new one, space satellite which received a name in honor of the ancient Slavic god of the Sun "Svarog-1." The main purpose of the spacecraft should be to study gamma-ray bursts coming from the depths of the Universes. In addition, the satellite will practice orbital maneuvers. The university announced this on December 23, 2025.

𝓲

Фото: MEPhI

Svarog-1 will belong to the class of 3U cubsatots - that is, small artificial satellites, whose dimensions are 10×10×30 cm. The device will be based on the OrbyKraft-Pro satellite platform from the Russian private space company Sputnik. At Svaroga, two devices developed at MEPhI will be installed at once - the NATALIA gamma spectrometer, developed by the Department of Experimental Nuclear Physics and Cosmophysics, as well as a dry liquid vapor engine created by the plasma rocket engine laboratory of the Institute of Laser and Plasma Technologies MEPhI.

After a successful test in orbit, it is planned to commercialize these devices and scientific data obtained from the satellite, which will be carried out by the innovative company STAR (Satellite Technologies and Astrodevelopment) created at MEPhI.

The acceptance of a modified satellite platform of the future satellite with solar panels on gallium arsenide for increased power of the device and an X-transmitter for quick communication with the Flight Control Center has already taken place, "said Evgeny Stepin, head of the Center for Space Research and Technology at MEPhI. - The next step is to integrate the payload on the platform, which will be done in 2026!

𝓲

Фото: MEPhI

According to Yevgeny Stepin, the creation of such a spacecraft and payload for it requires combining the efforts of several scientific groups, units and institutes of MEPhI, which is made possible thanks to the organizational and coordination activities of the Center for Space Research and Technology

The work on the creation of the satellite is funded by a grant from the Innovation Assistance Fund. The grant received is being implemented as part of the Space-Pi educational project "Planet Duty," and schoolchildren and students who want to connect their future with astronautics will be involved in it.