Poquito was designed and developed by the Space Systems Engineering (Spasys) team at the University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SNT). Photo: University of Luxembourg

Poquito was designed and developed by the Space Systems Engineering (Spasys) team at the University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SNT).  Photo: University of Luxembourg

The Poquito mini-satellite, developed by the University of Luxembourg, was successfully launched on 14 January from California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Its mission? To test and validate new technologies in real orbital conditions, particularly in the field of satellite miniaturisation.

Luxembourg’s space sector is booming. A few hours before the , the University of Luxembourg’s first miniaturised satellite, named Poquito (PocketQube for In-Orbit Technology Operations), was sent into space from the Vandenberg Space Force launch base in California on 14 January at 20:09 Luxembourg time. The satellite lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-12 rideshare mission.

Measuring 5 x 5 x 5 cm, roughly the size of a Rubik’s Cube, Poquito will be deployed into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 525 km via the Scottish company Alba Orbital’s rideshare services using an AlbaPod PocketQube deployer.

Designed and developed by the Space Systems Engineering (Spasys) team at the University of Luxembourg's Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SNT), Poquito is the first satellite project to be managed entirely by the university. “For the first time, we have managed every aspect of a space mission, from design and testing to licensing and securing a launch carrier,” enthused professor Andreas Hein, head of the Spasys team at SNT. “We will leverage this experience to drive future space projects and push the boundaries of satellite miniaturisation.”

Three years in space

Poquito carries with it a chipsat measuring 5 x 5 x 0.2 cm, a printed circuit board that operates autonomously. The mission is to test the optical communication between the satellite and the chipsat using miniaturised LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and to control the satellite using the Earth’s magnetic field. “This experiment marks an important step toward advancing satellite miniaturisation, a key technological development to reduce costs and make space more accessible,” explains the university in its .

The satellite should remain operational for up to three years and will communicate with the university’s ground station, located on the Kirchberg campus, via UHF (ultra-high frequency) frequencies. It will provide open access for telemetry and communication tests.

“This is a landmark achievement for the University of Luxembourg. With this launch, we are building up strategic capabilities for Luxembourg and laying the groundwork for future space missions,” said the university’s rector, professor .

This article was originally published in .

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