IoT CubeSat program advances following Rapidtek's contact with Nightjar
Rapidtek Advances 8U IoT CubeSat Program for LEO Communications Constellation
Rapidtek Technologies, a Taiwan-based company specializing in space communication modules and phased-array antenna technologies, is making significant strides in its 8U IoT CubeSat program. The company aims to establish a preliminary low Earth orbit (LEO) communications constellation by launching four 8U CubeSats aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets between late 2025 and mid-2026.
The first 8U CubeSat, Black Kite-1, has completed environmental testing and is currently in the launch preparation phase. Assembly of the second satellite is already underway. This constellation seeks to demonstrate scalable, integrated IoT communications using Ku-band high-speed links, LoRa low-speed communication, and Ku-band inter-satellite links, supported by precision GPS and robust onboard processing.
The Nightjar satellite, one of Taiwan's few privately led efforts to design, develop, and operate LEO communication satellites, played a crucial role in this endeavour. Rapidtek activated its Ku-band communication payload during the Nightjar mission, demonstrating a private enterprise's capability to design, develop, and operate high-frequency payloads. The core mission of the Nightjar satellite focused on in-orbit verification of Rapidtek's self-developed communication payload.
Faculty members from National Central University (NCU) contributed to the functional development of the Nightjar satellite's payload, ensuring stable performance in orbit. Meanwhile, the National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT) partnered with Rapidtek to establish Taiwan's first privately built Ku-band ground receiving station. The ground station at NCU supported the Nightjar satellite, enabling stable communication capabilities and reliable command and telemetry reception.
The program highlights three key investment strengths: proven core technologies with scalable potential, integrated functions combining phased-array antenna modules, inter-satellite links, and IoT applications. Rapidtek's 8U CubeSat, Black Kite-1, features a more advanced and complex architecture than the 3U CubeSat. The high-precision GPS receiver for the 8U CubeSat is provided by the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) to ensure stable orbit positioning.
The 8U CubeSat's core verifications include confirming the completeness of each module, the satellite's precise pointing capability, and validating the IoT payload. Between late 2025 and mid-2026, Rapidtek plans to launch four 8U IoT CubeSats, forming a preliminary communication constellation. This platform will support constellation communications and extend coverage to remote areas where traditional networks cannot reach.
The eventual goal is to create a commercially ready satellite communications platform by 2026, targeting improved connectivity in remote areas and emphasizing a global market rollout starting with Asia. Rapidtek’s innovation in scalable satellite communications and collaboration with TASA are enhancing Taiwan’s role in the global LEO satellite ecosystem.
[1] Rapidtek Technologies' 8U IoT CubeSat Program: A Step Towards Scalable Satellite Communications Deployment [2] Nightjar Satellite: A Milestone in Satellite Communications for Rapidtek Technologies
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- Rapidtek Technologies' 8U IoT CubeSat Program, which aims to establish a preliminary low Earth orbit (LEO) communications constellation, includes the use of cutting-edge technology in the form of satellite communication modules, phased-array antenna technologies, and advanced Ku-band high-speed links for scalable, integrated IoT communications.
- The company's science and space-and-astronomy initiatives have been significantly advanced through collaborations, such as the Nightjar satellite mission, where Rapidtek activated its own developed high-frequency Ku-band communication payload, demonstrating technology capabilities crucial for future space endeavors.
