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The first Czech satellite designed and built entirely by students is set to head into space in the middle of this year. The KOSTKA satellite, developed by the YSpace team from Brno University of Technology, has successfully passed final tests and will soon be delivered to the official launch provider, which will ensure its deployment into Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket by SpaceX. The launch from the Vandenberg base in California is planned for around the turn of June and July 2026.A model of the KOSTKA satellite at the recent AMPER Trade Fair. | Author: Václav KoníčekTo an untrained observer, KOSTKA may look like an ordinary box covered with miniature solar panels and protruding antennas. What is interesting about it, and why send something like this into space? So-called CubeSats (or nanosatellites) are a smart and cost-effective solution that allows even student teams, such as YSpace, to participate in space research.“CubeSats are one of the outcomes of the miniaturization and international standardization of technologies, which makes it possible to fit all satellite functions into a small volume and open up space missions to university teams. The KOSTKA mission is intended to provide students with as much practical experience and knowledge as possible, among other things for the preparation of the more ambitious CIMER satellite, which will include an experimental biological payload. This is an area where there is still limited experience in the Czech Republic and Europe, so we wanted to start with a simpler CubeSat that will serve as a springboard for future projects,” said Šimon Sloboda, head of the YSpace team.The final phase of preparations for the KOSTKA satellite in TRL Space’s cleanroom. | Author: YSpace Archives
The first mission is a major challenge for the team. “We began work on the KOSTKA mission in 2023, and now we are approaching the final stage. In four years, we managed to come up with a concept, prepare the experiment, develop and manufacture most components of the individual subsystems, and finally successfully test the assembled satellite so that it is ready not only for space conditions, but above all for the strong vibrations during the rocket launch. We also had to handle a number of complex administrative tasks, such as securing the launch and communicating with industrial project partners,” listed the key steps Šimon Sloboda.The final phase of preparations for the KOSTKA satellite in TRL Space’s cleanroom. | Author: YSpace ArchivesAt the same time as preparing KOSTKA, development is underway on the more complex CIMER satellite, which was selected at the beginning of last year for the ESA development programme. “Technical aspects we address during consultations with ESA are transferable to KOSTKA and vice versa. Having two projects at different stages of development that complement each other and share many design elements is very helpful for us as a team,” Sloboda evaluated.
However, such progress would not be possible without the enthusiasm and willingness of the participating students to go far beyond the scope of regular studies. “YSpace is essentially an extracurricular activity that aims to approximate the functioning of professional space companies. We have an established leadership structure and clearly defined responsibilities—from completing individual subsystems, through planning tests, to marketing and securing funding. All of this must be balanced with school and often also employment. This means that at critical moments it is necessary to stay in the lab late into the night or even over weekends to get everything done,” Sloboda explained and continued: “We really had to push ourselves, especially before the final vibration tests. At that stage, some team members stayed in cleanroom facilities for up to 48 hours without a break to ensure that everything was assembled and tested according to the transport company’s requirements.”The final phase of preparations for the KOSTKA satellite in TRL Space’s cleanroom. | Author: YSpace ArchivesThe effort, however, is worth it. “Throughout the entire development process, we aim to build a network between academia and the rapidly growing space industry in the Czech Republic, providing valuable opportunities and experience for all parties involved. Thanks to cooperation with companies such as TRL Space, VZLU Aerospace, and Spacemanic, team members have an easier path to careers in this field. They gain contacts, information, and know-how needed for their next career steps,” Sloboda explained. “Not to mention that studying space applications must be complemented by practical projects, and our team is an ideal choice for that,” he added.At YSpace, however, the planned missions are not seen only as a path to practical education, but also as a contribution to the popularization of space activities among the general public. “We want to share enthusiasm for technology and inspire others to embark on something similar, while also showing what lies behind such a project and that it can be done. Exactly in the spirit of our team motto ‘Because we can’,” concluded Šimon Sloboda.The YSpace team from the Brno University of Technology. | Author: Václav Široký