Foresail-1 Prime
Foresail-1p, a successor to Foresail-1, is a satellite by the Finnish Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Space with two payloads from Turku and FMI.
Spacecraft
Spacecraft
Rapid development of technology and increasing awareness of global challenges have increased the need for lean and agile space missions, and calls for a new generation of engineers to design them. Miniaturization of the sensor technology and electronics has decreased the weight of a satellite, which at the same time has brought launch prices to the reach of educational institutes and smaller countries.
Contact information:
Professor Jaan Praks, [email protected], tel +358 50 4205 847
Professor Esa Kallio, [email protected], tel +358 50 4205 857
A satellite project is an excellent source of motivation for learning and collaboration, the goal is clear to everybody. Many students wish to contribute to a real space project and now it is possible. When combining this motivation with a project based teaching and high quality lecture courses, the learning outcome is usually very good or excellent.
The CubeSat project concept rhymes also well with modern university teaching trends that attempt to integrate all the key components of professional expertise to comprehensive learning experience. Completion of the satellite demonstrates the high level of education at the Aalto University. The new generation of nanosatellites involves technological developments, the results of which can also be used in other fields.
The Aalto University satellite projects ensure that students will continue to work with the right challenges and the latest technology in the future. Designing instruments for use in highly demanding conditions helps us create innovations and teaches us to appreciate and build quality.
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Active Satellite Projects
Aalto University operates its ongoing space missions from the university's ground station on campus. These satellites are controlled by students under the supervision of research staff, offering a unique educational and research opportunity. Simultaneously, new missions are constantly under development at the Aalto Satellite Laboratory.
Foresail-2: Space Physics Mission in a Challenging Environment
Foresail-2 will study Earth's radiation belts to improve our understanding of space weather and its effects on technology.
Suomi100-satellite
The Suomi 100 satellite is Aalto University’s 3rd CubeSat in space. The 1U satellite has two payloads, a visible light camera and an own designed and built radio instrument. The science goal of the satellite is to study space weather phenomena near the Earth, especially auroras.
Aalto-3: Open Source Student Satellite Project
The Aalto-3 is the third member of the Aalto Satellites family. It is a CubeSat with a size of 1U. The goal of the Aalto-3 is to provide an Open Source satellite for everyone which has been demonstrated to work and endure in the harsh space environment.
Completed Missions
These missions have finished their operations and are no longer active. They’ve provided valuable data and insights, helping to shape the work we do today and in the future. Each mission played an important part in Finland's Aalto University’s efforts in satellite development and space research.
Foresail-1
Foresail-1 is a satellite mission from the Finnish Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Space hosting two payloads - the particle telescope (PATE) from the University of Turku and a deorbiting plasma brake device from the Finnish meteorological institute. The spacecraft is designed and built at Aalto University.
Aalto-1: the Finnish student satellite project
Aalto-1 is a student satellite project, the first in Finland.
Aalto-2: satellite for QB50 constellation
Aalto-2 satellite is a 2U CubeSat format satellite for the QB50 atmospheric measurement mission (qb50.eu).
Space Hardware Developed at Aalto
Aalto University has developed a range of space hardware, originating from our satellite missions and related research. This section showcases some technologies designed by students and researchers.
MAgnetometer Technology Test Instrument (MATTI)
MATTI is a compact, high-performance magnetometer developed by Aalto University, designed for CubeSats and based on affordable COTS components.
Digital and Analog Sun Sensors
Aalto University has developed and tested open-source sun sensors, vital for satellite orientation, using robust commercial components.
Foresail-1 Electrical Power System
The Foresail-1 EPS is a custom power system for CubeSats, providing efficient energy management and resilience in harsh space environments.
Space Technology Projects
Aalto University engages in various projects aimed at developing practical space technologies. These initiatives explore new solutions for different space-related applications and contribute to research and industry collaborations, helping to advance space technology in meaningful ways.
DIAMANT: Deployable Integrated Advanced Membrane ANTenna
DIAMANT develops deployable thin membrane antennas for small satellites, advancing communications, Earth observation, and space exploration.
RadEx: The Foresail-2 Radiation Experiment
RadEx on Foresail-2 will test multilayer radiation shielding to minimize the radiation dose in the intense Van Allen radiation belts.
ASPECT: Hyperspectral imager for planetary defense
ASPECT, a hyperspectral imager on the Hera mission, supports planetary defense, with Aalto University leading its science operations.
Open Source & Community Resources
Aalto University is committed to making space technology accessible through open-source projects and community-driven resources. This section highlights open-source hardware and software developed at Aalto, along with key information for radio amateurs and space enthusiasts.
Foresail-1
Foresail-1 is a satellite mission from the Finnish Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Space hosting two payloads - the particle telescope (PATE) from the University of Turku and a deorbiting plasma brake device from the Finnish meteorological institute. The spacecraft is designed and built at Aalto University.
Digital and Analog Sun Sensors
Aalto University has developed and tested open-source sun sensors, vital for satellite orientation, using robust commercial components.
For radio amateurs
Aalto Satellites works closely with local radio amateurs and wants to open up new space-hobby possibilities for all the radio amateurs around the world.
Laboratories and facilities
Information about Aalto University's laboratories and facilities related to Spacecraft.
Spacecraft Publications
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