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\t\t\t\t\t\t18\/06\/2024<\/span> Europe\u2019s newest rocket soon launches, taking with it many space missions each with a unique objective, destination and team at home, cheering them on. Whether into Earth orbit to look back and study Earth, peer out to deep space or test important new technologies, Ariane 6\u2019s first flight will showcase the versatility and flexibility of this impressive, heavy-lift launcher. Read on for all about Curium One, then see who else is flying first.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Curium One is a 12-unit (12U) CubeSat designed and manufactured by Berlin-based company Planetary Transportation Systems (PTS \u2013 previously Part-Time Scientists) in partnership with the Athens-based Libre Space Foundation. With its dozen units come a variety of goals for the first flight of Ariane 6.<\/p>\n One aim is to contribute to CubeSat and amateur radio communities through testing and developing open-source hardware and software, helping to enhance global communication infrastructure and educational opportunities in space tech. The mission will use the\u00a0SatNOGS ground station network\u00a0which consists of more than 200 stations around the globe, open to anyone to use, with all results made public and data freely distributed under Creative Commons.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n A major technical goal of the mission is the first in-orbit demonstration of the state-of-the-art \u2018SatNOGS-COMMS\u2019 radio transceiver together with the Libre Space Foundation \u2013 a Greek not-for-profit organisation also pioneering open-source technologies in space.<\/p>\n SatNOGS-COMMS is an ultra-high frequency (UHF) and S-band radio transceiver \u2013 a communication device that can both transmit and receive radio waves using a \u2018turnstile\u2019 antenna. It is open source and fully compatible with the SatNOGS Network.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Verification of the transceiver will supply important information for the Libre Space Foundation\u2019s upcoming\u00a0PHASMA mission. For Planetary Transportation Systems, Curium One will provide the first in-orbit verification of their satellite design for use in planned future missions, boosting PTS\u2019s space development across all of its projects.<\/p>\n \u201cBy advancing open-source satellite technology and amateur radio, Curium One will enhance communication infrastructures around the globe as well as provide educational opportunities in space technology,\u201d explains Manolis Surligas, Software Developer at the LibreSpace Foundation.<\/p>\n Because Curium One\u2019s software and hardware are almost entirely open-sourced, students and radio amateurs have already been actively organising and participating in the development of the satellite \u2013 several gaining academic achievements\u00a0for their work.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cOur goal is to make space technology more accessible and affordable, and we are proud to validate the design of Curium One on Europe\u2019s new heavy-lift rocket, demonstrating Ariane 6\u2019s compatibility and its capability to deploy a variety of small satellite missions. We are extremely happy to participate in and witness this historic launch,\u201d continues Jakob Mayer, Mechanical lead of the development team.<\/p>\n From the mission\u2019s cost-effective silicon solar cells to the use of off-the-shelf components, its open-source development and staggeringly fast seven-month development time, Curium One is an important step in PTS\u2019s ultimate goal \u2013 to make space technology more accessible and affordable, with direct applications in already planned future missions.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cWorking with the incredibly experienced teams from Arianespace, ArianeGroup and ESA before and during the integration activities in May was a truly amazing experience for us. We are happy and very, very thankful to ESA and Ariane that we can witness and participate in this special Ariane 6 launch campaign,\u201d concludes Paul K\u00f6tter, project manager of Curium One development.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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