The Rector, Academician David Gurgenidze Congratulates the Georgian State and the Scientific Community on the Day of the First Georgian Space Object

Academician David Gurgenidze, the Rector of the Georgian Technical University, congratulated the Georgian state and the scientific community on the day of the first Georgian space object and issued an appeal regarding the remarkable date.

In his appeal, the Rector drew attention to the great scientific significance of the mentioned event and noted that 25 years ago, with the launch of the first Georgian space object – a deployable reflector into open space, a new era in the history of Georgian science was born.

“Today, the Georgian scientific community and our country celebrate the anniversary of the launch of the first Georgian space object into open space. 25 years ago, on July 23rd, 1999, independent Georgia and the world community witnessed the most important scientific and historical fact – the first space engineering handmade structure built by Georgians, a large-scale deployable reflector that successfully passed the test, left the Earth and began to fly in an independent orbit in the vast space. Since then, every July 23, this remarkable day is celebrated. This event marked another beginning of the countdown in the history of Georgia.

On the day of the first Georgian space object, first of all, I congratulate the general designer of this legendary space facility, Major General Academician Elguja Medzmariashvili, the group of Georgian scientists who worked selflessly on the creation of the space object, and the entire Georgian society! 

We are proud that this day is connected with one of the most important stages of the work of engineers and scientists of the Georgian Technical University – it was our scientists who laid the foundation for the history of launching a large reflector into space; moreover, the deployable reflector was designed, manufactured and pre-flight tested in Georgia by the Georgian Technical University under the direct leadership of Mr. Elguja Medzmariashvili.

With this most important event, the authors of the space object deservedly established Georgia’s place of honor among the space countries.

The fact of creating the first Georgian space object and sailing in open space is also significant for the Georgian Technical University, because in the work process, the priority direction of the development of space facilities and military-engineering branches was laid in Georgia, and its foundation became possible at the Georgian Technical University, our scientific, engineering, technical, as a result of joint, systematic and long-term cooperation of technological and industrial potential.

For the attention of the public, I must mention that the launch of the first Georgian space object is recognized in the history of cosmonautics and scientific publications as the beginning of a priority direction in space technologies; the date of the launch of the first Georgian large-scale space reflector, created under the leadership of the academician, Major General Elguja Medzmariashvili, into orbit and the successful test date, as an event, is included in the list of the most important historical chronicles of space exploration. It is doubly proud that even 25 years after the first Georgian space object was put into orbit, it is still not possible for the European Space Agency (ESA) member states to launch a large-sized space reflector into space and successfully deploy it.

25 years ago, the history of the large-scale experiment – “Reflector” – started at the Georgian Technical University and continues successfully today.

Academician Elguja Medzmariashvili, together with the engineers and scientists-researchers of the Georgian Technical University, and with the active support of the university’s administration, continues to work successfully on space facilities and military-engineering constructions.

Within the framework of the partnership with the American company EOS DATA ANALYTICS, INC, theoretical and experimental studies are being conducted in the direction of designing and creating space reflectors and other space objects. A bench complex for these works is provided in the university space, the scientific-educational and production center “Analysis Equipment”.

At various times, scientific and engineering works were performed, including, in partnership with the German company Daimler Benz Aerospace and the Italian Alenia Aerospacio, as well as in collaboration with the Munich Technical University, the European Space Agency orders were fulfilled to create different variants of the deployable space reflector. All these works are another important step taken by the Georgian Technical University and Georgian engineers-scientists toward success and a guarantee that Georgia will definitely have its say in the space assimilation direction. 

On this remarkable date for our country, we once again congratulate the academician, Major General Elguja Medzmariashvili, the Georgian Technical University, and its engineering-scientific circles, and the whole of Georgia”, – is stated in the appeal of the Rector of the Georgian Technical University, Academician David Gurgenidze.

The photos depicting the deployment and testing of the first Georgian space object in open space were taken by the French astronaut Jean-Pierre Ennier.