Slovakia is gearing up to launch its
first satellite into orbit with the aim of demonstrating the country's ability
to carry out scientific experiments in space. The pocket-sized, one-unit
CubeSat, named skCUBE,
is currently slated for liftoff in June atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The central European state is one
of the last countries on the continent to have its own satellite.
Weighing
about 2.2 lbs. (1 kg), skCUBE is a 4-inch (10-centimeter) cube that will carry
an on-board computer, a communications system and a small camera to conduct
experiments when orbiting Earth. The main goal of this project is to
demonstrate that Slovakia is capable of highly sophisticated space
research.
"We
see the development of skCUBE as a first spark of light in showing the world
that Slovakia belongs to countries with a potential in space science and
industry. We want to show that Slovakia has excellent universities, science
institutions and companies which innovate and make our country a good name
around the world and going to prove it through our first satellite made in
Slovakia," Lucia Labajova, Marketing Manager of the Slovak Organization
for Space Activities (SOSA), told Astrowatch.net.
SOSA,
founded in 2009, is the non-governmental entity that developed the skCUBE
project. The organization was established to popularize space research and to
increase general awareness about the importance of the space industry. It is
also actively promoting the entry of Slovakia into the European Space Agency
(ESA).
SkCUBE
is also backed by the government and could be a great example of cooperation
between universities, students, companies and other supporters. The Ministry of
Education, Science, Research and Sport and the Ministry of Transport,
Construction and Regional Development dedicated about $102,000 (€90,000) in
total to the satellite project. Many Slovak companies support the project with
their know-how, qualified employees and also financially.
"SkCUBE
is developed and built by Slovak engineers and scientists as a national project
demonstrating an excellent cooperation of our state, universities, students,
companies and other supporters, such as astronomy fans," Labajova said.
SkCUBE satellite being presented at
a press conference on Jan. 7, 2016. Credit: SOSA
The
tiny spacecraft is fitted with an electricity supply system, a sensory system
and an orientation control instrument. The camera on-board the satellite is
capable of taking images with a resolution of 750 x 480 pixels. Its angle of
view is 60 degrees and it contains infrared and neutral density filters.
SkCUBE will focus on ham radio experiments that will include connection of two amateur radio operators via the satellite, sending of basic telemetry data via Morse code for easy listening and high speed data and image transmission via the 2.4 GHz band.
Labajova
noted that radio amateurs from all over the world will be able to receive a
picture, which will be stamped with the skCUBE name, the call sign OM9SAT and a time-stamp. It will only contain information in accordance with amateur radio
regulations. Transport Protocol and possibilities for signal reception will be
published in advance on the project's website.
The
ham radio research will also include a VLF receiver with frame magnetic loop
antenna, which allows recording of radio signals in the range 3 to 30 kHz,
spectral analysis and data transmission to the ground. The data will be public,
and can be used to advance scientific analysis.
Other
technological experiments include attitude control of the satellite in space
using magnetic coil actuators or checking radiation resistance of critical
technology components (DC-DC converters, current measurers, switching
transistor, RAM, FRAM, FLASH memory).
Jakub
Kapus, the chairman of SOSA is leading the skCUBE effort. The project team
consists of scientists from the Zilina University, the Slovak technical
university in Bratislava and the Faculty of Aeronautics at the Technical
University Kosice.
"In
the beginning, when SOSA was founded, we had a goal to achieve something almost
unimaginable for such a small group of people. We were connected by our passion
for space and new technologies and wanted to push the Slovak space science and
technology another step forward to later eventually become a full member of
ESA," Labajova said.
"History
is formed by brave and stunning acts. Today, we are happy to present SOSA as a
group of capable young scientists, engineers and people who want to push the
boundaries forward towards a new frontier," she added.
Slovakia
signed the European Cooperating State Agreement with ESA in February 2015. The
nation has been actively involved in space physics research and in
astronautics, having two cosmonauts, the Czechoslovak Vladimír Remek, who flew
in space in 1978, and the Slovak citizen Ivan Bella, who spent nine days on-board the Mir space station in 1999.
Although
Czechoslovakia sent its first satellite, called Magion 1, into space in October
1978, Slovakia, as an independent country, hasn't yet put its homegrown
spacecraft in orbit around Earth.
The
launch of skCUBE has been initially scheduled for Apr. 16, but was postponed
and is now planned for June. However, the exact date is yet to be decided.
Currently, SpaceX aims to conduct two orbital missions in June.
Labajova
said that at this moment, everything is on track for the June liftoff, and the
team can focus on the arrangements for the launch. However, in the beginning,
it was a long and difficult bureaucratic process as the skCUBE will be the
first Slovak object in space.
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