Rapidtek Applied sciences, headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, specialises in area communication modules and phased-array antenna applied sciences. Rapidtek not too long ago introduced profitable sign reception from the “Nightjar” 3U CubeSat, which was developed underneath fee from the Taiwan House Company (TASA). This mission verified Rapidtek’s in-house communication payload in orbit and reached Know-how Readiness Stage 8 (TRL 8), confirming the system’s maturity for business deployment. The mission exhibits Rapidtek’s Earth-to-space functionality and Taiwan’s function within the satellite tv for pc provide chain.
The Nightjar satellite tv for pc represents one in all Taiwan’s few privately led efforts to design, develop and function low Earth orbit (LEO) communication satellites. The core mission targeted on in-orbit verification of Rapidtek’s self-developed communication payload. Past merely receiving a beacon sign, Rapidtek examined a communication hyperlink by way of its proprietary module, confirming the soundness and performance of the satellite tv for pc’s communication chain.
Rapidtek’s floor station obtained indicators, and UHF newbie radio operators worldwide confirmed the satellite tv for pc’s wholesome operation. With help from the bottom station at Nationwide Central College (NCU), the satellite tv for pc was in a position to obtain secure communication capabilities in addition to dependable command and telemetry reception. As well as, college members from NCU contributed to the practical growth of the payload, guaranteeing secure efficiency in orbit. Rapidtek additionally activated its Ku-band communication payload, demonstrating a non-public enterprise’s functionality to design, develop and function high-frequency payloads.
To help this mission, Rapidtek partnered with Nationwide Taipei College of Know-how (NTUT) to determine Taiwan’s first privately constructed Ku-band floor receiving station. This facility not solely ensured the profitable reception of indicators throughout the mission but in addition laid the muse for future high-frequency satellite tv for pc functions and business deployment. The success of this communication demonstrates Rapidtek’s full-chain integration capabilities, overlaying unbiased design, manufacturing and testing of satellite tv for pc payloads, in addition to the institution of floor infrastructure and operational administration. It additionally paves the way in which for the event of high-throughput satellite tv for pc (HTS) methods, multi-band satellite tv for pc constellations and large-scale business deployment.
Constructing on the success of the Nightjar mission, Rapidtek has launched the following part of the Startup CubeSat Program with TASA. Between late 2025 and mid-2026, 4 8U IoT CubeSats will launch aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets to type a preliminary communication constellation, demonstrating the corporate’s dedication to scalable satellite tv for pc communication deployment. This system strengthens shut cooperation, extending present satellite tv for pc operations and addressing complicated communication and integration challenges. By integrating know-how and sources, it advances Taiwan’s LEO satellite tv for pc know-how, accelerates the alignment of personal corporations with nationwide area methods, and positions Rapidtek as an trade chief.
Rapidtek’s next-generation 8U IoT CubeSat, developed underneath the Startup CubeSat Program, includes a extra superior and complicated structure than the 3U CubeSat, enabling it to deal with extra demanding missions. This flight focuses on three core verifications: confirming the completeness of every module and the satellite tv for pc’s exact pointing functionality; validating Rapidtek’s self-developed IoT payload, together with Ku-band high-speed communication, LoRa low-speed communication and Ku-band inter-satellite hyperlinks; and assessing the high-precision GPS receiver supplied by the TASA to make sure secure orbit positioning, together with the space-grade GPGPU’s potential to reliably course of and analyse knowledge underneath harsh situations reminiscent of excessive radiation and low temperatures.
Rapidtek’s first 8U CubeSat underneath the Startup CubeSat Program, Black Kite‑1, has accomplished environmental testing and entered the launch preparation part, whereas meeting of the second satellite tv for pc is already in progress. By ongoing deployment and payload verification, Rapidtek goals to determine an preliminary constellation by 2026, making a LEO communications platform prepared for business use. This platform will help constellation communications and prolong protection to distant areas the place conventional networks can’t attain, serving to to beat present connectivity limitations. This system additionally highlights three key funding strengths: confirmed core applied sciences with scalable potential, built-in features combining phased‑array antenna modules, inter‑satellite tv for pc hyperlinks, and IoT functions, in addition to a world market technique starting in 2026 with preliminary deployments in Asia.
The Rapidtek area group stated: “Profitable communication with Nightjar marks a significant milestone in satellite tv for pc communications for Rapidtek. The 8U CubeSat IoT constellation program represents a key step towards scalable satellite tv for pc communications deployment. Rapidtek will proceed to drive private-sector innovation and strengthen partnerships with academia and worldwide collaborators. It is going to additionally improve Taiwan’s function within the world LEO communication ecosystem. We thank TASA for its lengthy‑time period help and sit up for advancing area functions collectively.”
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