Czech Military Satellite SATurnin-1 Begins Transmitting Images

The cutting-edge Czech military satellite SATurnin-1 has begun transmitting its first images from orbit.

The Czech Aerospace Research Centre (VZLU) announced that it successfully received stunning photographs of Prague from space.

“Photographs of Prague: a greeting from Saturnin-1 in orbit. The satellite has been in space since January of this year, and capturing images is its primary mission,” the institute shared.

In January, the Czech Republic successfully placed its largest satellite into orbit for defense and security purposes.

It was launched into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket as part of the Transporter 12 mission.

The device was built to order by specialists from the Aerospace Research Centre for the Ministry of Defense. It is the largest Czech satellite in space.

When its solar panels are deployed, the device measures 87 cm; its dimensions are 32 x 22.5 x 22.5 cm.

The main instrument is a high-resolution telescope designed to capture images of Earth. It can take up to 100 images per day. Data on board is processed using artificial intelligence algorithms.

Czech companies and institutions developed the satellite’s key components. They were assembled at the Aerospace Research Centre (VZLU).

The Czech military funded the satellite. The initial project was created in 2022, and all work was completed in September 2024. After that, SATurnin-1 was transported from the Czech Republic to the United States.

“This will bring us financial savings in the future, as we will be less dependent on foreign suppliers of satellite imagery,” the Ministry of Defense noted.

As previously reported, Ukraine and the Czech Republic are creating a Constellation optical reconnaissance satellite group.