News in Press-centre

The pilot model of the spacecraft will be designed, assembled, and tested by the participants of the Young Professionals (WorldSkills Russia) Open Regional Championship at Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU). The new Space Systems Engineering competence became the eleventh in the program of the WorldSkills international standards competition, which will be held in FEFU from September 19 to 22.

According to Stanislav Karpenko, the main expert of the Space Systems Engineering competence, the Director of the FEFU Center for Project Activities, students will assemble a functional microsatellite model for Earth remote sensing from space. The device includes all necessary systems for working in orbit, as well as a remote sensing camera.

On the first day of the championship, participants will design the device in a 3D simulation program, perform numerical calculations of its motion in orbit, and program the on-board computer. Further, students will assemble a satellite and perform comprehensive system tests. In the final, third day, the functional test of the device will take place—the satellite will be placed on a special stand to simulate flight conditions.

"Starting from the new academic year, cosmonautics will become one of the topics for the project work of students in the new FEFU Center for Project Activities," Stanislav Karpenko said. "We are going to gather the teams of undergraduate and graduate students of different areas of study, who will develop, assemble and eventually launch their small space vehicle of the CubeSat format. Now, ROSCOSMOS actively supports such initiatives in universities and conducts launches from cosmodromes on preferential terms."

As Mikhail Sivtsev, the Director of the FEFU Department of Vocational Secondary Professional Education and Development of Professional Competences, said, Space Systems Engineering is a completely new competence that is necessary for university students.

"Private space exploration, small satellites, low-orbit aircraft—according to experts' forecasts, the volume of this market is simply enormous. And it's not just about the development and production of satellites, but also about the associated servicing, and their further use in human activities. In addition, the Vostochny Cosmodrome is actively developing in the Far East, which requires high-quality specialists with such competencies," said Mikhail Sivtsev.

Sixty-five students of higher and secondary vocational education and training (VET) programs, including those from the branch campus in the city of Nakhodka, will take part in the WorldSkills Championship in FEFU. Experts, academics and representatives of enterprises—Progress Aviation Company, Dalpribor, Hyundai Hotel, Tiger de Cristal, Skolkovo Far East office and others—will evaluate the participants. The business part is planned to transform the FEFU academic programs according to the WorldSkills standards, as well as interactive classes for high school students for them to be acquainted with the professions of the future.

The following competencies are selected for the first competition in FEFU: Web Development, Software Solutions for Business, Space Systems Engineering, CAD Design Engineering, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, 3D Computer Game Simulation, Laboratory Chemical Analysis, Entrepreneurship, Hotel Administration, and Tourism. The winners will represent the university in the finals of the national inter-university championship, which will be held at the end of November 2017.

The championship will be held in the S Building of the FEFU campus and is open to all comers. Guest registration is available via the link .