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4. Dec. 2023
Today's science often aims to develop technologies that are more advanced, more environmentally friendly and also more economical. One of the most attractive areas of research is in the field of space technology. In order to advance technology in this area, researchers from CEITEC BUT together with colleagues from FEKT BUT have been processing signals from the BDSAT-2 nanosatellite orbiting the Earth since the beginning of the year. Data from the satellite, including its current position, can now be viewed online.
BDSAT-2 is a nanosatellite, the so-called cubesat. It is a small cube measuring 10 × 10 × 10 cm. Although it is small, it can take on the tasks of larger satellites, providing a low-cost option for developing and testing new technologies in space. After a failed attempt with the BDSAT satellite, which stopped transmitting after a few weeks, BDSAT-2 represents a second, this time very successful, venture, backed by the Brno-based company BD Sensors, Spacemanic and researchers from CEITEC BUT and FEKT BUT.
The space nanosatellite BDSAT-2 has been orbiting the Earth for eleven months. It was carried into space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on 3 January 2023. Measurements and experiments have been successfully launched and the satellite is now transmitting telemetry data from orbit at regular intervals. The goal is to test selected pressure sensors for demanding space applications and the use of a bank of supercapacitors as an innovative solution for storing electricity from solar cells on satellites. This is because the satellite charges when it is facing the Sun, whereas it consumes the stored energy when flying in the shade. This solution could replace conventional battery power systems in the future.
We have reported earlier that the nanosatellite won the Golden AMPER award at the AMPER trade fair. However, the BDSAT and BUT research team did not rest on their laurels and continued intensive testing and data collection from all implemented subsystems and experiments of the BDSAT-2 satellite. The results and conclusions from these measurements were subsequently presented during the final review of the project "BDSAT - Nanosatellite for Experimental Verification of Sensor Systems in Orbit", which took place on 7 June 2023 at CEITEC BUT. The project was awarded by the evaluation committee with an overall rating of "V – excellence of international importance".
Recently, a new portal http://www.bdsat.cz has been launched which shows data from the nanosatellite, including its current position in orbit.
"After the successful launch of the nanosatellite in January, the satellite was put into operation and then all the necessary parameters of the nanosatellite and the ground station were set to enable regular and reliable radio communication. The on-orbit testing phase was then initiated, collecting telemetry data and measurements from both experiments and then processing and evaluating them. The low orbit of about 550 km above the Earth's surface in which the nanosatellite operates imposes specific constraints. The radio contacts with the satellite are relatively short and about 98 % of the time the satellite has to perform all actions, measurements and storage autonomously. Nevertheless, the ongoing measurements and communication with the nanosatellite confirm the correct operation of all parts of the system. According to the measurements so far, the tested pressure sensors and capacitor banks on board the nanosatellite meet very demanding requirements both in terms of survival in the harsh conditions of space and in terms of maintaining accuracy and other technical parameters. It is confirmed that the tested technologies for future space applications are reliable even in the harsh conditions of space," added Radimír Vrba, the Director of CEITEC BUT.
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