LeoSat is set to soar high into the stratosphere. The satellite, which was developed and built by four students from the HTL Leonding as part of a diploma thesis, is set to transmit data and photos during its high-altitude flight. If all the relevant authorities give the green light, the launch is set to take place on Tuesday.
The milled aluminum cube is only around ten cubic centimeters in size and weighs 717 grams. It contains all kinds of high-tech: ten measuring instruments for a wide range of data measurements, plus several GPS transmitters to make it easier to find. All of the instruments were built in-house, only the self-developed circuit boards were manufactured in China.Huge effortInstead of the 180 hours of work per person required for a diploma thesis, the four students, who were supervised by three supervising professors and financed by three sponsors from the private sector, stopped counting at 1,000 hours. The development took 16 months and two school years, and will finally culminate on Tuesday in the satellite’s flight lasting several hours. Practical experience gainedBut what was all this effort for? “From the moment this idea was proposed to us in third grade, we were passionate about it,” says Frederick Wögerbauer. The prospect of the launch, the big goal, brought the four guys, who had known each other before but had never worked together, together, agrees Jakob Schaumberger. Each had a specific area of responsibility, but: “Coordinating with each other and coming to an agreement to make it happen was definitely one of the most difficult points!” says Wögerbauer. Launch on TuesdayIf Austro Control, Linz Airport and the Federal Army give the green light, the satellite will begin its high-altitude flight on Tuesday morning. It will rise to a height of around 36 kilometers in a weather balloon and, in addition to taking photos and videos, will also measure numerous other data such as humidity and speed. The balloon will burst at the target altitude and the probe will gently glide back down on a parachute. According to current wind forecasts, it will land in the Freistadt district, and several GPS transmitters will ensure that it is easy to find again. We wish you a good flight!
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