Czech Republic's SATurnin-1 enters orbit with SpaceX boost
The Czech satellite SATurnin-1 was placed in orbit thanks to cooperation with Elon Musk's company, SpaceX. It is the largest satellite belonging to our southern neighbours.
The Czech Ministry of Defence reported that the country has joined the ranks of nations exploring space. The country has placed its largest satellite, SATurnin-1, in orbit. The Research Test and Aerospace Institute built the satellite at the request of the Czech Department of Defence. It weighs 14 kg and measures 33 cm x 23 cm x 23 cm.
SATurnin-1 launched into Earth's orbit
Its main task is high-resolution Earth imaging, enabled by a camera mounted on board. The satellite can capture 100 daily images, which are processed in orbit using artificial intelligence.
The SATurnin-1 project, initiated in 2022, was successfully completed in September 2024. Construction took place at the National Aviation and Space Research Centre VZLU Aerospace, where a team of experts and engineers carried out all the necessary assembly work. After completion, the satellite was transported to the United States. Here, thanks to cooperation with SpaceX, SATurnin-1 was launched into orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket, marking the pinnacle of this endeavour. The launch was scheduled for 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Czech Republic plans to conquer space
The Czechs are not stopping at SATurnin-1 and are working on additional satellites, including a project similar to SATurnin-1 but intended for scientific purposes. The new satellites will also be equipped with instruments for high-resolution Earth imaging.
