Serbia gets its first satellite - Launch in late 2025 or early 2026

Serbia is preparing to send its first satellite into orbit, joining the group of 106 countries that already have space programs. In addition to observing the Sun in the X-ray domain, which is impossible from Earth, because the atmosphere - fortunately for mankind - blocks X-rays, the "Mozaik" satellite has several other missions.

As pointed out by Dr. Milan Stojanovic, project manager and scientific associate of the Belgrade Astronomical Observatory, there will also be a small camera on the satellite that will record Serbia from afar.

- Although there are recordings in higher resolution from Google or some other satellites, they are not always available to us. This way, we will receive images of our country once a day, but also better master this technology - explains Stojanovic.

According to him, the secondary goal of the mission is learning and mastering all techniques: from the procurement of components, to the very launch of satellites into space, so that we can later work on the creation and launch of larger aircraft. As Stojanovic says, "Mozaik" belongs to the class of small satellites known as "CubeSat", measuring 10x10x10 centimeters, which are colloquially called cube or nanosatellites, because they consist of three cubes, which can be combined into one whole.

- For example, we will buy a ready-made spectrometer for studying the Sun, but we will make some parts in Serbia. Then we need to put it all together and confirm that it is ready for the temperatures in space. We have to pass all possible tests prescribed by world standards - Stojanovic points out.

Only after that we will be able to launch the satellite, with the help of some of the countries that provide these services. Whether it will be the United States, Russia, China or an EU member, the best offer will be determined, and the plan is to launch "Mozaik" in late 2025 or early 2026 and keep it in orbit for between two and three years.

- That period is significant because we want to observe the Sun, and around then its maximum activity should occur in the regular eleven-year cycle. So, we want to follow that maximum and the phase immediately after, when there is a decline, because that's when most results can be obtained. However, not everything depends on us, but also on the service provider - says Stojanovic.

This project started about two years ago. In addition to the Astronomical Observatory, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics and Electrical Engineering, as well as the "Mihajlo Pupin" Institute, are involved.

- Roughly speaking, ten people work on the mission. However, some of them work half-time as external collaborators - Stojanovic explains and adds that one of his colleagues previously worked as a chief engineer at the European Space Agency, and he joined the team almost immediately after he "clocked out" from the telescope, and he did that entirely on a voluntary basis.

- He used to work on much bigger satellites than the one we are working on now - says Milan Stojanovic, not wanting to name a colleague, because it would not be fair to single someone out from the rest of the team.

- Support is not missing from some of our people from abroad, who we can always contact and ask for advice. We have colleagues who have gone abroad to work in large astronomical centers and we can consult them - Stojanovic points out.

However, the biggest support, as he concludes, comes from the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, which finances the project to the greatest extent.

Astronomska opservatorija Beograd

Mašinski fakultet Beograd

Matematički fakultet Beograd

ETF Beograd

Institut Mihajlo Pupin doo Beograd

Ministarstvo nauke, tehnološkog razvoja i inovacija Republike Srbije

Astronomical Observatory Belgrade

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Belgrade

Faculty of Mathematics Belgrade

Faculty of Electrical Engineering Belgrade

Mihajlo Pupin Institute Belgrade

European Space Agency

Ministry of Science

Technological Development and Innovation

Milan Stojanovic

Mozaik satellite