The Russian Tomsk-TPU-120 CubeSat, now stowed in the International Space Station awaiting deployment, probably early next year — will be activated to help Tomsk Polytechnic University celebrate its 120th anniversary.

On May 10-11 the Tomsk-TPU-120 will be activated to transmit a greeting to Earth, recorded by university students in 10 languages — Russian, English, German, French, Chinese, Arabic, Tatar, Indian, Kazakh, and Portuguese.

The greeting signal will be transmitted once a minute on 437.025 MHz FM. One of the dualband transceivers on the ISS will receive and retransmit the signal on 145.800 MHz FM.

Launched to the ISS on March 31, a handle on the Tomsk-TPU-120 distinguishes it from other CubeSats. The handle will permit the CubeSat to be deployed by hand during a future spacewalk (EVA) by Russian cosmonauts. Developed by students at Tomsk Polytechnic University to test new space materials technology, the CubeSat is the first space vehicle with a 3D-printed structure.

Dmitry Pashkov, R4UAB, reports that the Russian ISS crew will attempt a test transmission on May 5.