QUBE-Mission update

11.04.2025

Successful Satellite Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) and ADCS Commissioning for QUBE Mission.

Würzburg, Germany – Following the successful launch of the QUBE satellite, the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) has achieved its key milestones, verifying the satellite’s core functions and conducting initial operational tests. This phase has included activation of the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS), calibration of sensors, commissioning of the optical terminal, the Quantum payloads, and resolving communication and software challenges.

The satellite, equipped with advanced sensors and actuators, demonstrated critical attitude determination and control capabilities. Early operational tests included detumbling, safe rotational rate adjustment, fine-pointing mode, and verification of the optical terminal and the quantum payloads.

Key Highlights

LEOP Achievements

During the first orbit, the ADCS successfully initiated detumbling, reducing the rotation rate into the targeted range of 2.5°/s to 4°/s. Initial system checks confirmed the health of all subsystems, and systematic hardware verification ensured functional integrity following the launch.

ADCS and Optical Terminal Commissioning

In-orbit calibration of magnetometers resolved data discrepancies caused by sensor misalignment and environmental factors. Successful tests demonstrated detumbling using magnetorquers and fine-pointing capabilities with <0.5° control error. In parallel, the optical terminal was successfully commissioned, as well as the quantum payloads were checked out.

Overcoming Challenges

Interference at the UHF ground station was addressed through band-pass filter integration, restoring reliable signal reception. Software updates and workarounds ensured successful fine-pointing and payload control procedures, overcoming residual data handling issues.

With the successful conclusion of LEOP and ADCS commissioning, the QUBE mission now progresses to its next transformative milestone: establishing a stable laser communication link. This critical step, made possible by the advanced optical terminal which QUBE carries, will enable precise evaluations of satellite pointing accuracies and serve as the foundation for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) experiments. As weather conditions permit, the establishment of laser links will mark the final technical validation before QUBE pioneers for secure, high-speed quantum communication in space.

Thank you to our incredible team and partners who made this success possible.

Funding

QUBE was funded as part of the German government’s research framework program for IT security: “Self-determined and secure in the digital world 2015-2020”