CZECH TECHNOLOGICAL Nanosatellite

VZLUSAT-2

The main task of the VZLUSAT-2 mission is to verify technologies for future missions of the Czech satellite constellation – the nanosatellite will be equipped with an experimental camera and a unit for precise attitude control. In addition, on board there is also second generation of devices which have already proven their qualities on the previous VZLUSAT-1 satellite.

Nanosatellite is based on the well-proven Cubesat concept, which allows to “compile cubes” of 10 x 10 x 10 cm according to the type of mission. In case of VZLUSAT-2, concept of 3U design with three “cubes” has been selected, allowing the installation of experimental cameras and other experiments.

The flight window for the Falcon 9 launcher is scheduler for the end of the year 2021.Target orbit of the satellite is at altitudes between 500-600 km above the Earth. Communication with the satellite will be performed through the ground station of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of West Bohemia.

Devices onboard the VZLUSAT-2

2 cameras for Earth observation

  • Resolution 30 m and 500 m GSD
  • Focal length 70 mm and 6 mm
  • FOV 5.0 ° and FOV 45.2 °
  • Detector resolution 1.3 MP 1280 × 1024 pixels

X-ray optical payload

  • X-ray sun sensor
  • Rigaku wide-angle X-ray optics
  • miniaturized TimePix detector with CdTe sensor (5-500keV)

Space X-ray Detector (SXD)

  • Weight 18 g
  • Dimensions 35 x 25 x 12 mm
  • Sensitivity (photons) 30% @ 20keV, 3% @ 60keV
  • Sampling frequency 20 Hz
  • Energy spectrum 5–2000 keV

Space Dosimetry System Demonstrator (2SD)

  • Five-layer pixel detector based on SpacePix2
  • Pixel X-ray detector
  • Max. flow 106 resp. 105 particles cm-2s-1
  • Photons 3–20 keV
  • Electrons 0.1–8 MeV
  • Protons 1-400 MeV

Gamma Flash Detector (GRB Detector)

  • 2 detectors with a large photon capture area in the energy range of 50-300 keV
  • Digital board for processing and data storage

Water vapor outgassing (DPTWI) sensor

  • Hal sensory element
  • Weight 5.5 g
  • Dimensions 27.4 x 21.2 x 9.4 mm

Gallery

Partners

The project was made possible with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, focused on the long-term conceptual development of a research organization. The project was implemented with financial support from the state through the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic by the EPSILON program. Specifically, the project TH04010294 named Technological Demonstrator – Radial Orbital Monitor with Spacepix Sensor.