Technical Information

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

97,4°

INCLINATION

97,4°

ORBIT PERIOD

97,4°

MODULATION

97,4°

BEACON MODE

97,4°

ORBIT ALTITUDE

97,4°

UPLINK/DOWNLINK

97,4°

CALLSIGN

97,4°

ORBIT TYPE

97,4°

INCLINATION

97,4°

ORBIT ALTITUDE

97,4°

ORBIT PERIOD

97,4°

UPLINK/DOWNLINK

97,4°

MODULATION

97,4°

CALLSIGN

97,4°

BEACON MODE

97,4°

ORBIT TYPE

97,4°

INCLINATION

97,4°

MODULATION

97,4°

ORBIT ALTITUDE

97,4°

CALLSIGN

97,4°

ORBIT PERIOD

97,4°

BEACON MODE

97,4°

UPLINK/DOWNLINK

97,4°

ORBIT TYPE

97,4°

INCLINATION

97,4°

MODULATION

97,4°

ORBIT ALTITUDE

97,4°

CALLSIGN

97,4°

ORBIT PERIOD

97,4°

BEACON MODE

97,4°

UPLINK/DOWNLINK

97,4°

ORBIT TYPE

97,4°

INCLINATION

97,4°

MODULATION

97,4°

ORBIT ALTITUDE

97,4°

CALLSIGN

97,4°

ORBIT PERIOD

97,4°

BEACON MODE

97,4°

UPLINK/DOWNLINK

97,4°

ORBIT TYPE

LIVE ON SATNOGS

SatNOGS is a global open-source network of satellite ground stations. Once KOSTKA is in orbit, every pass observed by any station worldwide - decoded telemetry frames, signal waterfalls, housekeeping data - is logged publicly in real time. No account needed to browse.

SATNOGS DB

TELEMETRY

LIVE ON SATNOGS

SatNOGS is a global open-source network of satellite ground stations. Once KOSTKA is in orbit, every pass observed by any station worldwide. Decoded telemetry frames, signal waterfalls, housekeeping data is logged publicly in real time.

SATNOGS DB

TELEMETRY

KOSTKA

The 1U satellite is the first Czech satellite built exclusively by students.

Hover over the individual components to view details.

KOSTKA

The 1U satellite is the first Czech satellite built exclusively by students.

Hover over the individual components to view details.

ON-BOARD SUBSYSTEMS

EPS

ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM

Harvests solar energy via body-mounted panels, manages lithium battery charging, and distributes regulated power to every subsystem.

EPS

ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM

Harvests solar energy via body-mounted panels, manages lithium battery charging, and distributes regulated power to every subsystem.

EPS

ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM

Harvests solar energy via body-mounted panels, manages lithium battery charging, and distributes regulated power to every subsystem.

OBC

ON-BOARD COMPUTER

Central mission brain –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ executes commands uplinked from the ground, handles data storage, and coordinates all subsystem activity.

OBC

ON-BOARD COMPUTER

Central mission brain –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ executes commands uplinked from the ground, handles data storage, and coordinates all subsystem activity.

OBC

ON-BOARD COMPUTER

Central mission brain –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ executes commands uplinked from the ground, handles data storage, and coordinates all subsystem activity.

COMMS

COMMUNICATION

UHF transceiver enabling downlink telemetry, beacon transmissions, digipeater relay, and uplink command reception.

COMMS

COMMUNICATION

UHF transceiver enabling downlink telemetry, beacon transmissions, digipeater relay, and uplink command reception.

COMMS

COMMUNICATION

UHF transceiver enabling downlink telemetry, beacon transmissions, digipeater relay, and uplink command reception.

AOCS

ATTITUDE CONTROL

Passive magnetic stabilization using permanent magnets aligned with Earth's field and hysteresis rods to damp unwanted rotation.

AOCS

ATTITUDE CONTROL

Passive magnetic stabilization using permanent magnets aligned with Earth's field and hysteresis rods to damp unwanted rotation.

AOCS

ATTITUDE CONTROL

Passive magnetic stabilization using permanent magnets aligned with Earth's field and hysteresis rods to damp unwanted rotation.

STR

STRUCTURE

1U CubeSat-standard aluminium frame engineered to survive launch vibration loads and the thermal cycling of low Earth orbit.

STR

STRUCTURE

1U CubeSat-standard aluminium frame engineered to survive launch vibration loads and the thermal cycling of low Earth orbit.

STR

STRUCTURE

1U CubeSat-standard aluminium frame engineered to survive launch vibration loads and the thermal cycling of low Earth orbit.

PLD

PAYLOAD

UHF antenna paired with a UHF receiver –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the primary scientific instrument for interference measurement in the UHF band.

PLD

PAYLOAD

UHF antenna paired with a UHF receiver –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the primary scientific instrument for interference measurement in the UHF band.

PLD

PAYLOAD

UHF antenna paired with a UHF receiver –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the primary scientific instrument for interference measurement in the UHF band.

A sun-synchronous orbit means KOSTKA crosses every point on Earth at the same local solar time each day - providing consistent observation conditions and predictable contact windows for ground stations worldwide, including the amateur radio community.

Orbit type

SSO

Sun-synchronous

Inclination

97.7°

Near-polar, retrograde

Altitude

~597 km

Low Earth Orbit

Period

~96 min

Launch vehicle

Falcon 9

Vandenberg, CA · mid-2026

ANTENNA VALIDATION

Test a custom UHF antenna designed and built entirely by YSpace members under real on-orbit conditions - verifying performance data that cannot be replicated in ground testing.

UHF INTERFACE MAPPING

Measure radio frequency interference across the amateur UHF band from low Earth orbit, generating data on the electromagnetic environment unavailable from any ground-based station.

TELEMETRY BEACONS

Operate a live digipeater and periodic beacon, enabling the global amateur radio community to interact directly with KOSTKA and contribute to mission telemetry reception.

EDUCATIONAL PLATFROM

Provide hands-on experience across electronics, software, mechanics, operations, and management, giving students practical mission skills that directly support future projects.

MISSION OBJECTIVES

EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM

Provide hands-on experience across electronics, software, mechanics, operations, and management, giving students practical mission skills that directly support future projects.

RADIO COMMUNITY

Provide hands-on experience across electronics, software, mechanics, operations, and management, giving students practical mission skills that directly support future projects.

EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM

Provide hands-on experience across electronics, software, mechanics, operations, and management, giving students practical mission skills that directly support future projects.

TELEMETRY BEACONS

Operate a live digipeater and periodic beacon, enabling the global amateur radio community to interact directly with KOSTKA and contribute to mission telemetry reception.

TELEMETRY BEACONS

Operate a live digipeater and periodic beacon, enabling the global amateur radio community to interact directly with KOSTKA and contribute to mission telemetry reception.

TELEMETRY BEACONS

Operate a live digipeater and periodic beacon, enabling the global amateur radio community to interact directly with KOSTKA and contribute to mission telemetry reception.

ANTENNA VALIDATION

Test a custom deployable UHF antenna under real on-orbit conditions –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ verifying performance data that cannot be replicated in ground testing.

ANTENNA VALIDATION

Test a custom deployable UHF antenna under real on-orbit conditions –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ verifying performance data that cannot be replicated in ground testing.

ANTENNA VALIDATION

Test a custom deployable UHF antenna under real on-orbit conditions –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ verifying performance data that cannot be replicated in ground testing.

UHF INTERFACE MAPPING

Measure radio frequency interference across the amateur UHF band from low Earth orbit, generating data on the electromagnetic environment unavailable from any ground station.

UHF INTERFACE MAPPING

Measure radio frequency interference across the amateur UHF band from low Earth orbit, generating data on the electromagnetic environment unavailable from any ground station.

UHF INTERFACE MAPPING

Measure radio frequency interference across the amateur UHF band from low Earth orbit, generating data on the electromagnetic environment unavailable from any ground station.

HOW TO RECEIVE KOSTKA?

KOSTKA transmits openly in the amateur UHF band. Anyone with basic SDR hardware can listen to its beacon, decode telemetry, and use the digipeater –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ no special permission required.

EQUIPMENT

COMPATIBLE SDR

HackRF One, RTL-SDR, or similar

UHF ANTENNA

Simple V-dipole or turnstile works well

PASS PREDICITION SOFTWARE

To know when kostka is in line-of-sight

FREQUENCY AND CONTACT DETAILS

Available in Downloads

EQUIPMENT

COMPATIBLE SDR

HackRF One, RTL-SDR, or similar