Harbin Institute of Technology

Reported by: MEI Wenzhang
Photographed by: MEI Wenzhang
Translated by: WANG Yihao
Edited by: Jennifer Taylor

In order to welcome the Sino-Russian Year of Youth (2014-2015), vigorously promote the concept of ASRTU, enhance collaborative innovation between Chinese and Russian youth, and strengthen scientific and cultural exchanges between China and Russia, the ASRTU Small Satellites Students’ Camp was organised by the Association of Sino-Russian Technical Universities (ASTRU), sponsored by HIT, Amur State University, National University, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, and held in Blagoveshchensk, Amur region, Russian between April 9th to 12th. A total of 150 teachers and students from the top 25 engineering colleges in ASRTU built the aerospace dream together through mutual learning and collaborative innovation, and witnessed the opening of the Sino-Russian Year of Youth.

Hand in hand, lighting the torch of friendship

On April 9th, student delegations from China and Russia arrived in Blagoveshchensk. The ASRTU Russian Chief Executive and Vice Rector of Bauman Moscow State Technical University Sergey V. Korshunov, Vice Rector of Saint-Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, Yury Kolesnikov, and ASRTU Chinese Director of the Permanent Secretariat GU Jianzheng attended the opening ceremony. The famous Russian singer Sklyar, Aleksandr Felikovich was invited to perform at the welcoming ceremony. After the ceremony, Chinese and Russian students held hands around the campfire, singing, dancing and playing games. The campfire drove away the chill of early spring, leaving warmth in students’ hearts. With melodies, Chinese and Russian youth, hand in hand, sang the songs of friendship, which will carry on from generation to generation.

Gathering in the Orient, building the aerospace dream

On April 10th, Sino-Russian student delegation came to “the Oriental” spaceport construction site in Uglegorsk, Amur region, Russia after a five hours journey. They visited the launch and technical departments for the “Soyuz-2” rocket. The Oriental spaceport was founded in June 2012, and is expected to be completed in July 2015. The first unmanned launch will be conducted in 2015; the first manned launch will be conducted in 2018. In 2020, all Russian manned space programs will be transferred to the spaceport. During the visit, students from both countries not only broadened their horizons, but also witnessed the historic building project, in the hope that ASRTU collaborative innovation small satellites could be launched in “the Oriental” spaceport.

Innovation-driven, talking about dreams

On April 11th, the ASRTU Small Satellites Students’ Innovation Forum opened. Vice-Chairman of the Amur region government and Minister of Construction Department of "the Oriental" spaceport, Minister of Education and Science Department of Amur region Shelyukin Konstantin Chmarov, delegation of Russian State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Temin, ASRTU Russian chief executive Korshunov, ASRTU Chinese Director of Permanent Secretariat GU and other guests attended the opening ceremony and made speeches. President of Amur State University Andrey D. Plutenko declared the forum open. Russian State Duma member, heroine of the Soviet Union and the first female astronaut of the Soviet Union Bolshoye Maslennikovo sent her congratulations. The Russian State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee also sent its congratualtion.

Professor Medvetsky from the Moscow Aviation Institute, Professor WANG Feng from the School of Astronautics in HIT and Professor Leonov from the Department of Space Vehicles and Carrier Rockets in Bauman Moscow State Technical University made speeches in the ceremony. In the Forum, students from China and Russia delivered 28 reports altogether, of which China gave 12 and Russia 16. Student representatives also made brilliant English speeches. The contribution of MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) to satellites miniaturization, cubical satellites, the development of the demonstration functional model method of modular robots and engineering introduction of cubical satellite were themes of the academic exchange. Teams from Moscow Aviation Institute and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics also demonstrated 3D printed physical models of small satellites.

Celebrating festivals, friendship from generation to generation
April 12th is the “Space Day” of Russia, with many Russian universities in the field of aerospace holding various activities to celebrate. Amur State University is no exception. It held a variety of celebration activities for teachers and students from China and Russia and arranged the time the closing ceremony of the ASRTU Small Satellites Students’ Innovation Forum on the exact day of “Space Day”, drawing a conclusion to the event. The closing ceremony began with a rather contemporary laser short film. President Andrey D. Plutenko and Vice Rector Yury Kolesnikov made speeches at the closing ceremony. The Forum Academic Committee announced the ranking of Chinese and Russian student reports. Bauman Moscow State Technical University won the first place, HIT and Northwestern Polytechnical University won the second place, and Tomsk Polytechnic University and Nanjing University of Science and Technology was third. The Art troupe from Amur State University also brought wonderful performances, folk dances, chorus, duet and other programs were all unique. Brilliant performances of Chinese students studying in Amur State University also impressed the audience. Zhejiang University representatives also played music with flute, bringing the performance to a great climax.