Czech satellite SATurnin-1 soars into orbit with SpaceX boost
The Czech satellite SATurnin-1 has been placed in orbit thanks to cooperation with Elon Musk's company, SpaceX. It is the largest satellite belonging to our southern neighbors.
As the Czech Ministry of Defense reported, the country has joined the ranks of nations exploring space. The Czech Republic has deployed its largest satellite, SATurnin-1, into orbit. The Research Test and Aerospace Institute built the satellite at the request of the Czech Department of Defense. It weighs 31 lbs and measures 13 inches by 9 inches by 9 inches.
SATurnin-1 launched into Earth's orbit
Its main task is high-resolution Earth imaging, made possible by a camera mounted on board. The satellite can capture 100 images per day, 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 Center VZLU Aerospace, where a team of experts, along with engineers, carried out all necessary assembly work. After completion, the satellite was transported to the United States. There, thanks to collaboration with SpaceX, SATurnin-1 was launched into orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket, marking the pinnacle of this endeavor.
The Czech Republic plans to conquer space
The Czechs are not stopping at SATurnin-1 and are currently 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.
SATurnin-1 and EagleEye
For comparison, the largest Polish satellite is EagleEye, which weighs 121 lbs and measures 22 inches by 59 inches by 35 inches. EagleEye was launched into orbit as part of the Transporter-11 mission, also carried out by SpaceX. It is significantly larger than the Czech SATurnin-1.
