{"id":982,"date":"2024-10-19T22:08:32","date_gmt":"2024-10-19T19:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tudengisatelliit.ee\/?page_id=982"},"modified":"2025-11-23T10:46:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T08:46:40","slug":"suts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tudengisatelliit.ee\/en\/suts\/","title":{"rendered":"SUTS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since 2023, the Student Satellite has been running the SUTS project, or the Strategic Upgrades Test Satellite. During this project, we build upon the experience developed during the ESTCube satellites and TalTech Koit and H\u00e4marik projects. SUTS is Estonia\u2019s first ultra-miniature three-unit picosatellite, measuring only 5 x 5 x 17.8 cm. Although the satellite is very small, it is very capable, providing students with the necessary skills in miniaturizing technology and creating reliable engineering solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the framework of SUTS, we unite all young space enthusiasts in Estonia behind the same goal and end the competition between separate universities\u2019 satellite projects. The Student Satellite offers experiences and challenges to students from different universities, colleges, and high schools in Estonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developing a satellite is a unique experience for an engineer\u2019s skills, because once the satellite is sent into the Earth orbit, it is no longer possible to repair or maintain it. Instead, it is necessary to build highly reliable hardware and an on-board computer that can only be improved through software updates. The ability to create reliable hardware and software is an irreplaceable asset for the next generation of Estonian engineers. Building on the experience of previous satellite projects, over a hundred engineering students from various Estonian universities are expected to participate in the SUTS project over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUTS scientific mission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SUTS platform allows for the testing of innovative technologies in space that cannot be fully simulated on Earth. The satellite\u2019s technological payloads, developed by Estonian deep tech companies and researchers, include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Encrypted optical communications (responsible companies Skudo and Golbriak Space)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The SUTS optical communication payload, built by Skudo and Golbriak Space will develop communication technologies and cybersecurity in space. It is crucial for defense and telecommunications satellites to prevent their data and technologies from falling into the wrong hands, so the owner of each satellite must maintain sole control over the data being transmitted. Typically, satellite communications use radio frequencies that are sent from the satellite to a relatively large area on Earth, where malicious receiving stations may also be located. Instead, the narrow beam of a laser (optical communication) ensures that the satellite\u2019s data can only be received and used by the owner of the data in a very narrow area of \u200b\u200bland. In addition, a special FPGA chip enables hardware-based encryption of the data. This combination of technologies is completely novel and will strengthen the security of future satellites. In addition, the planned communication is much faster, as it uses infrared radiation instead of traditional radio communication, which allows for 10-100 times higher data transfer rates compared to radio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Solar cells made from lunar regolith (esearch group of Tallinn University of Technology together with the European Space Agency)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      A TalTech research group from the Laboratory of Solar Energy Materials Research is developing technology for manufacturing pyrite-based solar cells from resources that are found on the Moon. This research project is in cooperation with the European Space Agency which Estonia is a member of. The SUTS satellite mission will deliver the first flight test of these solar cells in real space conditions. The use of pyrite instead of the conventional silicon also has many advantages in terrestrial applications, such as the ultra-low-temperature treatment of the pyrite material, lower end price of solar panels and a smaller negative environmental impact of panel production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The project is funded from the state budget through research and development funding. Within the framework of support for student engineering development projects, the Estonian Student Satellite Foundation has in 2025 received a grant of \u20ac100,000 for the implementation of the project \u201cDevelopment and testing of the SUTS student satellite control module under simulated conditions.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Since 2023, the Student Satellite has been running the SUTS project, or the Strategic Upgrades Test Satellite. During this project, we build upon the experience developed during the ESTCube satellites and TalTech Koit and H\u00e4marik projects. SUTS is Estonia\u2019s first ultra-miniature three-unit picosatellite, measuring only 5 x 5 x 17.8 cm. Although the satellite is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":239402985,"featured_media":1137,"parent":0,"menu_order":18,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-982","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PeXfCC-fQ","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tudengisatelliit.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tudengisatelliit.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tudengisatelliit.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tudengisatelliit.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/239402985"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tudengisatelliit.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=982"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/tudengisatelliit.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/982\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1927,"href":"https:\/\/tudengisatelliit.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/982\/revisions\/1927"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tudengisatelliit.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tudengisatelliit.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}