The University of Luxembourg’s first miniaturised satellite POQUITO (PocketQube for In-Orbit Technology Operations) was successfully launched into space from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on 14 January at 11.09 local time. The satellite took off onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-12 rideshare mission.
Measuring 5x5x5 cm, roughly the size of a Rubik’s Cube, POQUITO will be deployed into a sun-synchronous orbit at 525 km altitude via Alba Orbital’s rideshare services, using an AlbaPod PocketQube deployer.
Developed by the Space Systems Engineering (SpaSys) team at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), POQUITO is a significant milestone as the University of Luxembourg’s first fully owned satellite. The project, designed, built and operated by researchers and students of the University, aims to demonstrate ultra-miniaturised technologies in space.