CroCube was launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket operated by SpaceX as part of the Bandwagon-2 mission in the United States. With this achievement, Croatia joins a list of around 80 countries with their own satellite in space, said mission leader Daniela Jović.
The launch began at 12:34 hours Croatian time, and at 2:16 PM, CroCube deployed from the rocket and entered its permanent equatorial orbit around the Earth at an altitude of approximately 550 km, where it will remain operational for about two years.
At 3:05 PM, CroCube established radio communication and sent its first signal back to Earth. A recording of the rocket's launch can be viewed on SpaceX's official YouTube channel (Bandwagon-2 mission).
"CroCube is in nominal and good condition. We are monitoring its telemetry data through the global SATNOGS network, which unites radio enthusiasts with powerful ground stations and enables satellite tracking worldwide. The public can already track CroCube via our mobile app, available for free on the App Store or Play Store," Jović said.
CroCube is a nanosatellite with dimensions of 10 x 10 x 10 cm and a mass of 1.1 kg. From its orbit at an altitude of 510 km, it will capture images of Earth and conduct scientific measurements over the next two years.
CroCube ushers Croatia into the space era
This landmark achievement ushers Croatia into the space era, overcoming numerous administrative, technological, and logistical obstacles on the path to space, said Jović.
The project's main goal is to drive Croatia's technological development, increase interest in astronomy and space projects, and support the growth of science and high-tech enterprise.
A secondary objective is to collect data from the Croatian-made scientific module Astrotron 1000, installed on CroCube. This module gathers data on the degradation of microelectronics under high-radiation and extreme temperature conditions.
The data collected will serve as a foundation for future commercial projects by Croatian space companies.
The satellite's launch is the result of three years of work by dozens of volunteers in Croatia, led by Jović. In cooperation with the Czech company Spacemanic and the Society for Out-of-Frame Education (EVO), this volunteer team designed, assembled, and launched Croatia's first satellite. However, they say that this is not the end of this project.
"As challenging as the first three years leading to the launch were, the real work begins now. We volunteers have proven that Croatia can do it and removed administrative and logistical barriers. Now it's up to others to take the next step and become part of the space industry, which is projected to be worth $1 trillion by 2030. Some Croatian companies partnering in this project have already begun working on commercial projects in the space business, and we are available to others interested in joining, offering our knowledge, experience, and support," said Jović.
The team is also planning an educational and presentation space in Zagreb to make their resources more accessible.
More information about CroCube can be found at www.crocube.hr.