BRNOsat: One small satellite, one giant leap into space for Brno, with BUT on board

The BRNOsat satellite will not be “just” a smart toy. It will offer students from two universities the opportunity to gain unique experience for their future careers in science and industry. Astronomers from Masaryk University will conduct an experiment using an ultraviolet telescope to study exoplanets, and researchers from the Brno University of Technology will test a “smart” switch and special seals on board.

Representatives of the partners involved in the BRNOsat mission. | Author: Petr Ryp

BRNOsat, as the name suggests, is being developed in Brno. Through the Brno Observatory and Planetarium, the city has so far invested more than six million crowns in the project—funds necessary to secure a “one-way ticket,” assemble part of the satellite, and handle overall promotion.

A significant milestone in the project’s implementation is a four-party agreement between the Brno Observatory and Planetarium, Masaryk University (MUNI), the company Spacemanic, and the Brno University of Technology (BUT). It was concluded after two years of negotiations and the necessary technological and organizational preparations.

The satellite will launch into space in late 2027, when a space rocket will place it into a so-called heliosynchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 525 kilometers above the Earth, ensuring that it passes over a given location on Earth at approximately the same local solar time each day. It will be shaped like a cuboid with a base measuring 10 × 10 cm and a height of 30 cm, supplemented by a special superstructure the size of a “can of tuna.”

The company Spacemanic will build the satellite’s basic equipment (such as the control computer, transmitter, and orientation system), ensure the integration of all scientific experiments, reserve a spot on the launch vehicle, and also operate BRNOsat for the first three months.

MUNI and VUT are preparing the scientific and technical experiments as a so-called shared mission, which will carry multiple experiments from various suppliers on board. A number of university teams, composed primarily of students, will collaborate on planning its operation, ground control, and the subsequent evaluation and interpretation of the acquired data

Two sets of basic experiments

BUT will focus on research into lubricants and so-called labyrinth seals, which minimize the evaporation of lubricants in the space environment—because even in space, things tend to dry out. The satellite will also carry a prototype of a miniature “smart” thermal switch, which could be used in the future for the automatic cooling of various devices in orbit. Furthermore, thanks to its Tracking and Command Station on the roof of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication BUT (FEEC) will handle the actual control of BRNOsat in orbit.

Robert Popela from the Institute of Aerospace Engineering at the FME BUT, presented the experiments planned by BUT for the BRNOsat mission. | Author: Petr Ryp

MUNI is providing the LUVCam-2 ultraviolet telescope, which is the result of a collaboration with the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto. The instrument will capture wide-angle images of the sky, which should, among other things, detect flares on red dwarfs and help clarify to what extent planets orbiting such stars may be suitable for life. Experience gained from the BRNOsat mission will also be used in the preparation of the upcoming QUVIK space telescope.

“Space research is already one of BUT’s strategic research areas, and I am very pleased that the energy invested in teaching, science, and the development of space applications is yielding concrete, increasingly visible results. This is evidenced not only by the recent successful launch of first Czech student satellite, KOSTKA, but also the selection of the project ICARUS ARMOR Next Gen among the experiments for Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda’s mission. We mustn’t forget last year’s European satellite mission, during which 3MI instrument—a unique technology developed at BUT—proved its worth in space, allowing us to capture images of our planet in unprecedented detail. Another student space CIMER mission is also in the works; our students have received direct support from the European Space Agency for its implementation, and as part of this mission, another BUT satellite will be launched into orbit, this time carrying a biological experiment developed in collaboration with Mendel University. Participation in the BRNOsat project is thus another step for our university toward gaining valuable experience in the space sector,” said BUT Rector Ladislav Janíček.

Rector Ladislav Janíček explained the role of Brno University of Technology in the mission's preparations. | Author: Petr Ryp

Interfaculty collaboration, benefits, and inspiration for students

Preparing a space mission is a highly complex and technologically demanding undertaking that would be unimaginable without collaboration on many levels. “In addition to partnerships with industry and Brno-based institutions, I greatly value the strong interfaculty collaboration right here at BUT. Experts from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, in particular, will play a key role in preparing experiments for BRNOsat. However, many components could not be developed or function without the contribution of software and hardware specialists from the FEEC and the Faculty of Information Technology. This synergistic approach is a great inspiration for other areas of our research and development, which are interdisciplinary by nature,” the rector emphasized and added:

“The most important people here, however, are our students. The BRNOsat project gives them a unique opportunity to participate in a real space mission, from the technical design to in-orbit control. In this way, we’re opening the door to cutting-edge research for them and showing that it’s possible to successfully reach for the stars from classrooms and laboratories. Similar projects are also a significant source of inspiration for elementary and high school students who are just beginning to decide on their future academic paths and consider studying technical and natural science fields at universities.”

Jiří Dušek (left), director of the Brno Observatory, mentioned the upcoming mission of Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda, who has strong ties to Brno and the Brno Observatory. | Author: Petr Ryp

Brno as a Contact Center for Extraterrestrial Civilizations

BRNOsat aims to spark young people’s interest in science and technology. The Brno Observatory and Planetarium will play a key role in this effort; its staff are preparing several activities—some more serious than others—to promote South Moravia. For example, the Fegurdi—aliens who are gradually “colonizing” Brno—will symbolically set off into space. In addition, several educational programs designed for elementary and high schools are gradually getting underway. For instance, a program titled The Hidden Faces of Earth about remote sensing of our planet has been created for digital planetariums. Everything will be gradually revealed on the website www.brnoletidovesmiru.cz

In a Nutshell
● BRNOsat is scheduled to launch in late 2027 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket;
● at an altitude of 525 km ± 25 km above the Earth’s surface, it will orbit the planet once every approximately 90 minutes;
● The satellite measures 10 × 10 × 30 cm with a “tuna-shaped” superstructure and weighs 3.2 kg;
● It is being developed in collaboration with the Brno Observatory and Planetarium, Masaryk University (MUNI), Brno University of Technology (BUT), and the company Spacemanic;
● It will carry the LUVCam-2 ultraviolet telescope, which will observe, among other things, flares on red dwarfs and assist in researching conditions for life on exoplanets;
● VUT will test special lubricants, labyrinth seals, and a miniature “smart” thermal switch for future space technologies;
● Students will participate in this real space mission not only theoretically but also in the preparation, operation, and data analysis phases;
● BRNOsat will not be merely a scientific and technical mission. It is also intended to inspire young people to take an interest in science, technology, and space;
● and since it is from Brno, the Fegurdi from the Contact Center for Extraterrestrial Civilizations will also symbolically join it on its journey into space.

Source: Press release from the Brno Observatory and Planetarium