TTS in space
Our company has a small but long-term tradiation of working in the field of space technologies. Our founders started to participate in research and development of thin film technologies for the space industry in their researcher years in the framework of the Interkosmos programme. TTS itself provided thin film metallization to microaccelerometers of Czech Aerospace Research Centre (VZLU) used by the European SWARM mission. Recently, we have been participating in VZLU small satellite missions and in R&D projects for the European Space Agency (ESA).
VZLUSAT-2 MISSION
2020 -
The successful VZLUSAT-1 mission is followed by another project of a nanosatellite made by Czech Aerospace Research Centre (VZLU). Apart from newly verified systems, the next generation of instruments that have proven themselves during VZLUSAT-1 is on its board, trace moisture sensors made by TTS included.
The trace moisture sensors have been integrated into the prototype of a measuring instrument – DPTWI transmitter – designed for the use for measurement of outgassing of small satellite components.
The nanosatellite – VZLUSAT-2 – is currently on its way to the USA, where it is planned to be launched into space to an altitude between 500 to 600 km by the Falcon 9 rocket.
VZLUSAT-2 mission is realized with a financial support by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic in the framework of the EPSILON programme. Other participants of the project are evolving systems consulting company, Czech Technical University in Prague and University of West Bohemia. Besides TTS, the partners of the project are the following companies – Advacam, s.r.o., Rigaku Innovative Technologies Europe s.r.o., NEEDRONIX s.r.o., Spacemanic CZ s.r.o., Eltvor Instruments, s.r.o. and Konkoly Observatory.
VZLUSAT-1 MISSION
2013 -
The Czech technological nanosatellite VZLUSAT-1, on board of which products of TTS can also be found, was successfuly launched into space on 23rd June 2017. Following three parts of the satellite bear the mark of TTS.
- sensors of trace moisture HAL
- thin films on composite panels
- thin film metallization on CdTe detector of radiation
The mission of this satellite is a verification of Czech products and technologies in space. The verified products are primarily the radiation hardened composite housing developed by 5M s.r.o. company, part of which are also TTS thin films, and X-ray optics developed by Rigaku Innovative Technologies Europe, s.r.o company. Systems monitoring the state of the satellite and its activity (sensors of temperature, radiation or placement) are also verified. Regarding our HAL sensors we would like to explore the possibility of their use for monitoring of outgassing in the environment of space vacuum.
The whole satellite is a results of several years work of consortium of companies and universities under the leadership of Czech Aerospace Research Centre. Along our company the companies Rigaku Innovative Technologies Europe, s.r.o., 5M s.r.o., HVM plasma spol. s r.o. and IST s.r.o. and Czech Technical University in Prague and University of West Bohemia participated in the project. The project was financially supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (programme ALFA).
For more information about the mission and current state and activity of the satellite, please visit the official website of VZLUSAT-1 mission and the website of Pilsen ground station: