YSpace succeeds in prestigious ESA programme and heads to space

International Day of Human Space Flight commemorates the beginning of the space era for humanity and celebrates the remarkable achievements of experts who have pushed the boundaries of human knowledge. Celebrated annually on April 12th, it honors the first manned spaceflight in 1961 by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Since then, our understanding of the universe has significantly expanded, yet scientific teams continue to uncover new findings. The desire to explore the vastness of space is shared by young engineers from BUT, working within the university team YSpace, who recently achieved a historic milestone – as the first Czechs to be accepted into the prestigious European Space Agency program Fly Your Satellite! Design Booster. What does this mean for their space mission CIMER, and what is the journey from an idea to an actual satellite? We talked about it with team leader Dominik Klement (DK) and mission technical lead Filip Čapka (FČ).

How would you explain the importance of this achievement to a layperson?

DK: Preparing a space mission that combines biological and technical aspects presents many challenges – even more so for a student team. Being included in the Design Booster program is a great opportunity. We gain access to top-level know-how and testing equipment from one of the world’s largest space agencies. This allows us to acquire hard-to-access knowledge and experience and contribute not only to the mission’s success but also to advancing our team’s capabilities and the Czech space sector in general.

What do you think convinced ESA to select you for the program?

FČ: Probably the fact that our mission includes a biological experiment, which was not a common component among the other applicants. We also believe our proposal was high quality – we showed the mission was feasible and not just an idea. For example, we built on a thesis from a graduate of the Space Applications program at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication at BUT (FEKT), which focused on thermal analysis. We also clearly identified our weaknesses and how ESA's support could help us overcome them. Reviewers likely appreciated that it’s an inter-university project.

What inspired you to apply to the Design Booster program?

DK: During a project class in the Space Applications program, five of us who later founded YSpace came together, looking for ways to grow. In 2023, we contacted scientists from Brno and Prague for project ideas. The CIMER project caught our attention – its experimental part was already being developed by scientists from Mendel University, and they were looking for someone to design and develop the satellite. We liked both the experiment and the potential to expand our technical skills. At the same time, we began planning a smaller, cheaper, and less demanding mission called Kostka, scheduled to launch by the end of 2025.

How did the selection process for Design Booster go?

FČ: It started with a proposal – 75 pages in English describing the mission CIMER and its objectives. The heads of each section of the mission wrote down the parts they were responsible for, and I, as the technical lead in charge of systems engineering, that is, determining the objectives and aligning the parts into a functional whole, put it all together and checked that the final document we submitted made sense.

That was the first, application phase. What happened next?

FČ: Over a hundred teams submitted proposals, and 15 were invited to the Training Week workshop in the Netherlands. It took place in mid-November, and six YSpace members attended, including one representative from Mendel University. The workshop helped us address issues like deorbiting – the satellite's natural orbital decay until it burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere. We hadn’t set the initial orbit height correctly, so the mission wouldn’t have ended within ESA’s required five years. After the workshop, we just fine-tuned the details, and based on the revised document, we were selected among the final twelve teams to present their mission to ESA experts. We felt good about the December Selection Workshop and the in-depth discussion that followed – and our acceptance confirmed it.

Is the program already underway?

FČ: Yes, we had our introductory online meeting at the end of January, where we met Luke and Kristina from ESA. They will guide us and ensure we stay on track. We’ll meet monthly to review our progress. They also connect us with key ESA experts for our mission – we recently had a meeting with a biology specialist. So far, communication with ESA has been great.

You mentioned that the program gives you access to measuring and testing equipment.

DK: Testing is critical for any mission, but it’s complex and expensive. Having the opportunity to test under expert supervision at ESA facilities helps a lot. But first, we need to reach the stage where we have something physical to test.

FČ: Right now, we have a 3D-printed model of the satellite. During the program, we’ll build a functional prototype without meeting material specs yet. Only after finalizing the satellite design at the end of the 18-month program will we build a flight-ready replica for further testing.

What are the biggest technical challenges in the CIMER mission?

FČ: Ensuring stable temperature within a six-degree range during the experiment and delivering nutrients at the right time to containers with dried cyanobacteria. Those are the key challenges.

DK: All of that is controlled by a command unit that receives commands like starting the experiment and sends data back to the ground station – such as temperature, battery status, or oxygen production. It’s one of the most critical components, so we’re purchasing a proven unit rather than developing our own.

FČ: Space radiation can be a major issue for electronics. Another concern is outgassing – gases released from circuit boards in a vacuum, which can deposit on optical components. That’s why it’s beneficial to use parts already tested in space.

DK: ESA has strict rules for inspection and testing. An unverified satellite component could endanger other satellites or even the rocket itself. ESA’s main concern isn’t whether our experiment works, but whether we don’t pose a risk to other missions.

Do you plan to continue with other ESA programs after Design Booster?

DK: We hope so. If ESA likes a team’s work, they usually continue. We’ll definitely apply. The next phase leads to an actual space launch, which we plan for late 2027 at the earliest.

Under what conditions can the CIMER mission be considered successful?

FČ: We’ve defined several success levels. The most basic is launching the satellite and establishing communication. The next is activating the experiment successfully. The final success would be proving the bacteria are viable – ideally producing oxygen, which we can measure. Reaching all levels will take at least seven months.

DK: We’re also thinking about what happens after the experiment. As long as the satellite functions in orbit, it can be used for educational purposes in the Space Applications program. At FEKT, we have a telemetry and command station for satellite communication. Students could practice operating a real satellite, sending commands, and receiving data. So, success in the Design Booster program is also a great opportunity for future students interested in space technologies.


Source: vut.cz/en

 

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Responsible person	Ing. et Ing. arch. Jana Němcová
Date of publication	14.04.2025