A specialized antenna that will be used to communicate with satellites has been installed on the roof of the Space Technology Center at the AGH University of Science and Technology. It will be able to track the movement of Poland’s smallest HYPE satellite, which will still be sent into orbit in January in 2025.
A specialized crane was used to install the antenna, which placed the equipment on the building where the young HYPE satellite’s designers, affiliated with the SatLab scientific club, work every day.
The antenna, which is 4.5 meters in diameter and weighs 105 kg, is prepared to receive as well as transmit signals in the 70 cm and 13 cm amateur bands. In practice, this enables two-way communication with the satellite, in particular, the collection of data sent by the device.
Among other things, the antenna is equipped with a weather station, which will provide researchers with data on wind speed, temperature or weather conditions. The meteorological information will allow users of the antenna to correct its positioning and thus protect it from the effects of strong and gusty winds, for example. An antenna used to communicate with a satellite is an essential piece of infrastructure in space-related projects. It enables establish and maintaining constant communication with objects in orbit, which in turn makes it possible to respond quickly to potential technical problems, as well as to receive the results of experiments carried out on board the satellite in real time.
The SatLab scientific club, working on the smallest Polish satellite, plans to launch the equipment into low Earth orbit later this January (the expected launch date is January 14, 2025). The satellite’s mission will last about six months.
Image source: www.agh.edu.pl
