Ukraine has launched OBRIA NANO into orbit — the first test satellite for its future national communications network. The launch took place on 1 October as part of the SpaceX Transporter-18 mission, and on 27 October, the Ukrainian defence and technology company Himera announced the start of testing. The project is being carried out by Himera and the Danish company GomSpace; according to the company, the satellite is operating as planned.
Briefly about the main points
- OBRIA NANO is a test unit for the future Ukrainian telecommunications network.
- The Falcon 9 launched a satellite as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission.
- The tests are intended to assess the equipment prior to the network’s roll-out.
- The future system will be operated by a Ukrainian operator.
- A fully-fledged service for the general public has not yet been launched.
The Transporter-18 mission delivered the spacecraft into low Earth orbit
OBRIA NANO was launched into low Earth orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket. The launch took place from the US Space Force’s Vandenberg base in California.
According to the information SpaceX, the Transporter-18 delivered 130 payloads into orbit. The Ukrainian spacecraft was one of them as part of a joint mission.
The trials will test the technology prior to the system’s roll-out
Satellite It is designed to test the technologies for Ukraine’s future satellite communications system. The results of the technical tests should enable the developers to assess the capabilities of the equipment and prepare for the next stages of the project.
This mission does not involve the launch of a fully operational satellite communications service for the general public. It involves an experimental satellite and the testing of technological solutions.
The plan is to monitor the network from Ukraine and integrate it with European systems
OBRIA’s aim is to create a network that will be controlled by a Ukrainian operator and will serve Ukraine’s strategic security interests. Himera believes that having its own infrastructure will help to diversify information transmission channels and improve the resilience of communications, particularly in wartime.
The company plans to deploy a constellation of satellites to provide communications coverage across the whole country. The developers note that the future system is intended to complement the capabilities of European satellite networks, rather than necessarily replacing all international services.
The partners are preparing to localise the satellites and ground terminals
Himera develops secure communications systems, including tactical radios for the military. GomSpace specialises in small satellites, space platforms and equipment for orbital missions.
One of the next objectives is the gradual localisation of satellite and ground terminal production in Ukraine. The company anticipates that this will develop its engineering expertise and in-house manufacturing capabilities, whilst also reducing its technological dependence on other countries.
OBRIA NANO is not the first Ukrainian satellite in history
The spacecraft became the first test satellite of the proposed network, but not the first Ukrainian satellite overall. «Sich-1», designed for remote sensing of the Earth, was launched on 31 August 1995. «Sich-2-30» was placed into orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket on 13 January 2022.
Once the tests are complete, the developers plan to analyse the results, expand the clusters and develop the ground-based infrastructure. Himera has not yet announced a launch date for the full-scale network.
