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In-Orbit Commissioning of Czech Nanosatellite VZLUSAT-1 for the QB50 Mission with a Demonstrator of a Miniaturised Lobster-Eye X-Ray Telescope and Radiation Shielding Composite Materials

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Abstract

This paper presents the results of in-orbit commissioning of the first Czech technological CubeSat satellite of VZLUSAT-1. The 2U nanosatellite was designed and built during the 2013 to 2016 period. It was successfully launched into Low Earth Orbit of 505 km altitude on June 23, 2017 as part of international mission QB50 onboard a PSLV C38 launch vehicle. The satellite was developed in the Czech Republic by the Czech Aerospace Research Centre, in cooperation with Czech industrial partners and universities. The nanosatellite has three main payloads. The housing is made of a composite material which serves as a structural and radiation shielding material. A novel miniaturized X-Ray telescope with lobster-eye optics and an embedded Timepix detector represents the CubeSat’s scientific payload. The telescope has a wide field of view. VZLUSAT-1 also carries the FIPEX scientific instrument as part of the QB50 mission for measuring the molecular and atomic oxygen concentration in the upper atmosphere.

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Acknowledgements

The work presented in this paper was performed as a cooperative effort of carried out by the following companies: Czech Aerospace Research Centre a.s., TTS, s.r.o.—Thin-film Technological Services, s.r.o., Rigaku Innovative Technologies Europe s.r.o., 5M s.r.o., HVM PLASMA spol. s.r.o., IST s.r.o, and also the Czech Technical University in Prague, the University of West Bohemia, and the Charles University in Prague. The project has been supported by Czech Republic grants TA03011329, TA04011295, GA13-33324S and GJ18-10088Y.

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Author notes

  1. Z. Vykydal

    Present address: Czech Metrology Institute, Prague, Czech Republic

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Czech Aerospace Research Centre, Prague, Czech Republic

    V. Daniel, V. Zadrazil & T. Jamroz

  2. Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    A. Inneman, T. Baca, O. Nentvich, M. Urban, V. Stehlikova, L. Sieger, P. Skala & V. Marsikova

  3. University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Pilsen, Czech Republic

    I. Vertat, R. Linhart & J. Masopust

  4. Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    R. Filgas, S. Pospisil, Z. Vykydal & Y. Mora

  5. Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    L. Pina

  6. Rigaku Innovative Technologies Europe s.r.o., Prague, Czech Republic

    V. Marsikova

  7. University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    L. Mikulickova

  8. TTS, s.r.o., Prague, Czech Republic

    L. Mikulickova

  9. Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

    E. Belas

  10. 5M, s.r.o., Kunovice, Czech Republic

    R. Pavlica

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  1. V. Daniel
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Correspondence to V. Daniel.

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Multi-Point Measurements of the Thermosphere with the QB50 Mission

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Daniel, V., Inneman, A., Vertat, I. et al. In-Orbit Commissioning of Czech Nanosatellite VZLUSAT-1 for the QB50 Mission with a Demonstrator of a Miniaturised Lobster-Eye X-Ray Telescope and Radiation Shielding Composite Materials. Space Sci Rev 215, 40 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-019-0589-7

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