Czech nanosatellite flies into space with IST AG sensors

Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG achieves a further success in the use of its sensors in the aerospace industry. On early Friday morning, June 23, 2017, the Czech nanosatellite VZLUSAT-1 was sent to the outer space from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India. Also on board were sensors of IST AG. The satellite was developed by the Czech Aerospace Research and Test Centre (VZLU) in cooperation with several Czech companies and universities.

The Swiss company Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG, which also has a location in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm in the Czech Republic, was part of this research project. The satellite carried platinum temperature sensors as well as humidity modules of IST AG, which are deployed for the monitoring of the temperature of the sunny and shady side of the satellite and for the control of different outgassing.

Shortly after the start, the sensors sent the first data to the station on earth. “IST AG is now present in the aerospace industry for several years. The start of the satellite VZLUSAT-1 is a new milestone in this area. It is a very special feeling to know that our sensors communicate with earth from space”, says Dr. Jirka Polak, CSO of IST AG. VZLUSAT-1 now shall orbit the earth in about 500 km distance for several years in order to test and verify new developed technologies and products of the partner companies.

(photo credit: www.vzlusat1.eu)