nadir lab. Autumn 2026 Research Release: Non-Pyrotechnic NiTi Antenna Deployment (SQ-R-003) & Materials-Initiated Failures Monographs (SQ-R-004)
nadir lab. publishes open-access monographs SQ-R-003 on non-pyrotechnic antenna deployment and SQ-R-004 on materials-initiated failures in CubeSat and PocketQube missions.
On 4 November 2026, nadir lab. released two original open-access research monographs — on non-pyrotechnic antenna deployment (SQ-R-003) and materials-initiated failures (SQ-R-004) — alongside the Global SmallSat & PocketQube Flight Heritage Atlas (/nations) and the CanSat & Model Satellite Student Engineering Hub (/cansat).
Monograph SQ-R-003 ('Non-Pyrotechnic Antenna Deployment in PocketQube-Class Satellites: Strain and Thermal Energy', published 22 October 2026) contrasts stored-strain-energy release via Nichrome/Kevlar or Dyneema burn-wires against superelastic and shape-memory NiTi radiator elements under the strict no-pyrotechnics constraint of AlbaPod and CubeSat dispensers. It provides complete electrical-to-thermal energy balances for single-cell 3.6 V Li-ion power buses at −40 °C cold-case conditions.
Monograph SQ-R-004 ('Materials-Initiated Failures and Screening Gaps in CubeSat and PocketQube Missions', published 4 November 2026) examines the disconnect between system-level mission failure databases and material-level ECSS-Q-ST-70-02C / ASTM E595 screening across polymer, elastomer, adhesive, and solder degradation mechanisms.
Published Proceedings, Open-Access Papers & Primary Dossiers
SQ-R-003: Non-Pyrotechnic Antenna Deployment in PocketQube-Class Satellites (Strain & Thermal Energy)
nadir lab. Monograph SQ-R-003 (22 Oct 2026)
SQ-R-004: Materials-Initiated Failures and Screening Gaps in CubeSat and PocketQube Missions
nadir lab. Monograph SQ-R-004 (04 Nov 2026)
CELESTRAK SATCAT & TELEMETRY RECORD
Verified Spacecraft Key Facts & Orbital Dossier
| Spacecraft | Class | Operator / Country | Launch & Vehicle | NORAD / COSPAR | Orbit & RF Downlink | Catalog Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Delfi-PQ | 3P | TU Delft NL | Falcon 9 (Transporter-3) · AlbaPod | NORAD 51074 2022-002CU | 436.65 MHz (UHF) | Decayed |
SMOG-P | 1P | BME HU | Electron · AlbaPod | NORAD 44832 2019-084J | UHF | Decayed |
FossaSat-1 | 1P | Fossa Systems ES | Electron · AlbaPod | NORAD 44829 2019-084F | 436.7 MHz (UHF) | Decayed |
Grizu-263A | 1P | Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit Univ. TR | Falcon 9 (Transporter-3) · AlbaPod | NORAD 51025 2022-002AT | ≈525 km Sun-synchronous, 97.4° 437.19 MHz, 435.675 MHz (UHF) | Decayed |
POQUITO | 1P | Univ. of Luxembourg (SnT) LU | Falcon 9 (Transporter-12) · D-Orbit ION / AlbaPod | Unassigned | UHF | Unverified |
HUNITY | 3P | BME (Budapest Univ. of Tech.) HU | Falcon 9 (Transporter-15) · SEOPS / AlbaPod | NORAD 66670 2025-276E | UHF / S | Active |
Catalogued Mission Summaries & Flight Notes
- Delfi-PQ (3P, 2022):
- TU Delft’s first PocketQube: PQ9 bus, three magnetorquers and two IMUs, about 1 W orbit-average power; operated for almost two years.
- SMOG-P (1P, 2019):
- Spectrum analyser that mapped man-made electromagnetic emissions from orbit, including the DVB-T band.
- FossaSat-1 (1P, 2019):
- Open-source 1P that tested LoRa and RTTY transmissions in the 435–438 MHz amateur band as a step towards low-cost IoT links.
- Grizu-263A (1P, 2022):
- Türkiye’s first PocketQube, built by the Grizu-263 Space Team: passive magnetic attitude control, a dual-rate UHF FSK downlink and a digipeater. Re-entered on 2 Oct 2023 (CelesTrak SATCAT) / 3 Oct 2023 00:00 UTC (SatNOGS DB) after 627–628 days (about 9,500 revolutions); the pre-launch expectation was about four years in orbit.
- POQUITO (1P, 2025):
- 185 g 1P PocketQube designed by the University of Luxembourg (SnT) to host a 5 × 5 cm ChipSat payload and test a visible-light optical intra-satellite link, with magnetorquers printed in inner PCB layers. Launched on SpaceX Transporter-12 (14 Jan 2025) aboard D-Orbit ION; specific NORAD catalog object correlation and in-orbit reception status are not yet verified in CelesTrak SATCAT.
- HUNITY (3P, 2025):
- Hungarian 3P PocketQube developed at BME with deployable solar arrays and RF spectrum monitoring payload, following the SMOG-P, ATL-1, SMOG-1 and MRC-100 lineage. In orbit; active UHF/S-band operations reported by BME and Alba Orbital following Transporter-15 deployment (Nov 2025).