Alba Orbital to launch miniature satellite built by Romanian high schoolers with SpaceX in Q1 2023
Alba Orbital, the world's leading PocketQube satellite manufacturer and launch broker, signed a rideshare agreement with RomSpace, an initiative of the International Computing High School of Bucharest, to launch Romania's first PocketQube satellite 'ROM-2' aboard the upcoming 'Alba Cluster 7' mission via SpaceX in Q1 2023, informs the website albaorbital.com.
ROM-2 (Romanian Orbital Mission) is a PocketQube satellite that measures 5x5x5cm and weighs 250g. Nicknamed 'Space Sparrow', this tiny satellite is no bigger than a Rubik's cube and is the very first spacecraft of its kind from Romania. Due to their low-cost, PocketQubes are paving the way towards space access democratization, opening the doors for smaller organizations to commence their own space research.
The RomSpace team formed of nine students aged 15 to 18 will travel to Glasgow to integrate their tiny satellite at Alba Orbital's facilities before it is shipped to SpaceX in preparation for launch in Q1 2023. ROM-2, also known as 'Space Sparrow', is an amateur radio satellite carrying an Earth Observation payload with a 2 megapixel camera on board to take images of the Earth.
The Romanian high-school team decided to build their first PocketQube after the Alba Orbital launch team recommended it as a quick and affordable way to get their first spacecraft in-orbit.
"It's truly inspiring to see these students as young as 15 have the drive and initiative to launch their own spacecraft!," said Alba Orbital CEO & Founder, Tom Walkinshaw. "PocketQubes provide fantastic opportunities for STEM education as the financial barriers to space have been significantly lowered," he adds.
"When I started being interested in the nano and pico satellite systems, more than 3 years ago, I knew I had to send one of my own in the near future. I was first impressed with the amount of technology that you can put in these tiny cubes," said mission leader Filip Buscu.
Alba Orbital has worked with over 30 customers across three continents, including prestigious clients such as Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University and TU Delft. AGERPRES (RO - author: Codrut Balu, editor: Simona Tatu; EN - editor: Simona Klodnischi)
The content of the www.agerpres.ro website has the exclusive purpose of public informing.
All the information published on this website by AGERPRES is protected by relevant legal dispositions.
It is forbidden to copy, reproduce, recompile, decompile, distribute, publish, display, modify, create derived components or products or full services, as well as any exploitation of the site's content.
Details in the section Terms of Use. If you are interested in picking up AGERPRES news items, please contact the Marketing Department – [email protected].
The use of the Comments section entails your obligation to respect the AGERPRES terms and conditions in regards to the publishing of comments on the www.agerpres.ro.
Other news in category
Germany votes: Will Europe's economic locomotive finally gather speed again? (enr)
Brussels, Jan 23 /Agerpres/ - Germany and France have long been regarded as the twin engines of Europe. While France has to deal with its own slate of problems, in Germany many important issues are on the back burner while the country waits for a new government. Can hard-nosed conservative Friedrich Merz be the fresh pair of hands the country needs? One month
Romania, promoted at international tourism fairs in Spain, France
The Ministry of Economy, Digitisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT) along with 25 travel agencies, hoteliers, relevant associations, local authorities, and other stakeholders will promote Romania at the international fairs FITUR Madrid (January 22-26) and Les Thermalies Paris (January 23-26), according to a press release from the institution. 'We h
Romania's pavilion at Osaka 2025 World Expo, sustainably built, including by Romanian workers
Romania's pavilion at the Osaka 2025 World Expo, which will take place from April 13 to October 13, has been built with sustainability in mind, including by Romanian workers, General Commissioner of the Romanian Section for Expo Osaka 2025 Ferdinand Nagy said on Wednesday. He participated in a press conference alongside Ambassador of Japan in Bucharest Kat
President of Romanian Academy Ioan Aurel Pop: Prince Cuza, cherished as hero of peasants
Bucharest, Jan 22 /Agerpres/ - The ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza was considered a hero of the peasants, President of the Romanian Academy Ioan Aurel Pop told a conference on Wednesday in Targoviste, on Cuza's role in the formation of modern Romania. "Cuza was also a hero of the people and especially of the peasants, to who
Boersch (Deloitte): Romania's economy could grow by almost 3pct in 2025
Bucharest, Jan 22 /Agerpres/ - Romania's economy could grow by almost 3% in 2025, according to a presentation made by Alexander Boersch, chief economist and coordinator of the Deloitte Germany Research Division, at a specialist conference in Bucharest 'Overall, the global economy grew at a rate slightly more than 3% in 2024 and it's likely to grow
Standard projects to be funded under Interreg NEXT Romania-Ukraine Programme, approved
The Monitoring Committee approved the standard projects that will be funded under the Interreg NEXT Romania-Ukraine Programme, the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration (MDLPA), the Managing Authority for this cooperation programme, announced on Wednesday. At the meeting, which took place in Bucharest, the Managing Authority within MDLPA pre
Tennis: Jianu, Cretu, Boitan and Pavel to play in the Davis Cup against Bulgarian team
Bucharest, Jan 22 /Agerpres/ - Romania's Davis Cup team for the match against Bulgaria, which will count for qualification in World Group I, included players Filip Jianu, Cezar Cretu, Adrian Boitan, Victor Cornea and Bogdan Pavel, the Romanian Tennis Federation informs on Wednesday in a press release to AGERPRES. For the Davis Cup match, which will take pl
Senate employees protesting against envisaged cuts
Tens of Senate employees spontaneously protested on Tuesday in front of the office of Senate President Ilie Bolojan, following the institution's leadership decision to reduce the staff by 24%. Ilie Bolojan, who was holding a press conference when tens of dissatisfied employees gathered in the hallway, explained that the staff reduction would take place fol
Bolojan: Senate positions, down from 796 to 618; car fleet, fuel allowance, cut by 20%
Senate President Ilie Bolojan announced on Wednesday that the number of positions in the Senate will be reduced from 796 to 618, and the car fleet and the fuel allowance will be cut by 20%. 'I proposed a new organisation chart, this chart was approved along with the two memoranda, and once it is approved in the first days of February, with the start of the
PM Ciolacu: Romania stands in solidarity with Türkiye following devastating fire at Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu
Romania stands in solidarity with Türkiye and its people following the devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu says in a condolence message addressed to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 'Dear President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Romania stands in solidarity with Türkiye and its people following the deva
Romania to have fish farms at Black Sea for the first time (EnvironmentMin Fechete)
Bucharest, Jan 21 /Agerpres/ - The Minister of the Environment, Waters and Forestry Mircea Fechet declared on Tuesday, in Constanta, that from this year, as a first for Romania, fish farms will operate at the Black Sea, with certain concessions perimeters having already been awarded for carrying out this activity. Fechet said he was looking forward to eating s
ECHR rejects Calin Georgescu's request for provisional measures in case on annulment of presidential elections
Bucharest, Jan 21 /Agerpres/ - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday rejected the request of Calin Georgescu on imposing provisional measures in the case in which he contests the annulment of the presidential elections in Romania. Georgescu had requested the adoption of provisional measures, in particular that the decision of the Constitutional
Radu Jude's feature 'Kontinental '25' selected for 2025 Berlin International Film Festival Competition
Bucharest, Jan 21 /Agerpres/ - Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude's most recent feature 'Kontinental '25' has been selected for the Berlin International Film Festival Competition. Berlinale Director Tricia Tuttle, alongside the two film programming Co-Directors Jacqueline Lyanga and Michael Stutz presented on Tuesday the 19 titles selected for the fe
Romania takes over European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina command
Bucharest, Jan 21 /Agerpres/ - The Defence Ministry on Monday reported that Romania has taken over the command of the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR). In the presence of senior official for defence policy, planning and international affairs Simona Cojocaru, and Chief of Defence Gheorghita Vlad, Major General Florin-Marian Barbu took over
Bucharest Stock Exchange records highest number of transactions in 2024
The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) recorded the highest number of transactions in 2024, namely 2.6 million, up 32% compared to the previous year, BVB President Radu Hanga said on Tuesday during the listing ceremony of Autonom bond issue. 'Looking back at 2024, the market capitalisation of companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange reached 363 billion