The launch of Ariane 6 from French Guiana (July 9th, 2024), the rocket carrying the Portuguese nanosatellite destined for the International Space Station, was broadcast directly at TagusPark Oeiras. This event marks a significant step in Europe's recovery of autonomous access to space.

After sixteen years of development, ISTSat-1 has finally reached orbit. Built entirely by students in an academic setting, ISTSat-1 was one of only four projects out of thirteen proposals to reach this final stage.

The Santa Maria teleport in the Azores, operated by Thales Edisoft Portugal, is the first station to receive data from the rocket. ISTSat-1's mission includes testing a new decoder for messages sent by planes, enabling the detection of aircraft in remote areas. The nanosatellite will evaluate the feasibility of using nanosatellites to receive signals about the status of aircraft, such as speed and altitude, enhancing aviation security.

Image and video credits: ESA