The Graz nanosatellite burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere

The so-called cubesat, which weighed only about 4.6 kilograms and measured only 30 by 10 by 10 centimeters, made its way to the polar, sun-synchronous circular orbit at an altitude of about 515 kilometers from the European spaceport Kourou in French on December 18, 2019 Originating from Guyana.

Graz built the system on behalf of ESA
The ESA OPS-SAT mission was designed as a ‘flying laboratory’ in which innovative technologies for space applications were tested and evaluated under real space conditions. The Graz University of Technology was tasked by the space agency to design the mission to test technologies such as high-performance processors, radio receivers and software in low-Earth orbit with little risk.

Circumnavigated the Earth a total of 24,500 times
The system, which has orbited the Earth a total of around 24,500 times, was used to anticipate elements of future ESA satellites and to enable research groups from companies, universities and schools to test technologies and software in space.

For example, on board there was a camera for Earth observation, a receiver for optical data transmission or a programmable radio receiver that can detect interference signals from Earth in certain frequency ranges.

250 scientific experiments
As part of the now-completed mission, “a total of more than 250 scientific experiments were carried out, from remote sensing to cybersecurity,” says the Graz University of Technology. OPS-SAT was also one of the first satellites to use artificial intelligence (AI) applications more prominently.

“The first stock trading in space and the first chess game in orbit” were also conducted through the platform. In March 2023, the project received the International Space Ops Award for Outstanding Achievement.