Space Universities CubeSat Challenge regional finals held

The China regional finals of the Space Universities CubeSat Challenge, an international contest for mini satellites and payloads made by university students, concluded on Monday in Beijing.

Three teams from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing Institute of Technology and Dalian University of Technology were champions at the finals, which included participation by 36 teams from universities from across the nation.

CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite made up of multiple cubic units, and is often used by commercial satellite companies and research entities to conduct simple scientific experiments or technological tests that do not need large, sophisticated satellites. To date, more than 1,000 such craft have been launched around the world to serve purposes in education, atmospheric surveying, technology demonstrations and space exploration.

The three teams will represent Chinese students at the contest's global finals. Satellites designed by global finals' winners will have the opportunity to be launched by Chinese carrier rockets, according to organizers of the China regional competition.

Organizers said that nearly 100 teams from over 10 countries took part in the Space Universities CubeSat Challenge, which is sponsored by the Chinese Society of Astronautics and International Astronautical Federation.