Agreement signed in Sintra provides for scientific observation from low Earth orbit by Prometheus-2 and a new space data infrastructure at UMinho
The Portuguese Air Force Academy (AFA) and the University of Minho are set to develop, launch and operate the academic satellite “Prometheus-2” in the coming months.
This space mission will place a 10x10x30cm object at an altitude of around 500 kilometres to collect data useful to the scientific and student communities. The project brings space into the classroom by directly involving several dozen students from the AFA and the UMinho School of Engineering, and follows on from the university’s first satellite, Prometheus-1, launched in 2025.
This cooperation agreement has now been signed, as an addendum to the agreement concluded a year ago, by the Commander of the AFA, Major-General Paulo Costa, and the Rector of UMinho, Pedro Arezes, at the AFA headquarters in Sintra.
The partnership includes the design, development, integration, qualification, launch and operation of Prometheus-2. The small satellite will be in the “CubeSat 3U” format and weigh around 3kg, which includes battery management and orientation systems, microcontrollers, a neutron detector and a high-resolution camera. From Earth, it will be possible to monitor various parameters and carry out tests and validations, such as software, geolocation and radiation.
It is envisaged that AFA will support UMinho with technical and operational coordination and mission requirements, contribute through its Research Centre to the components for the satellite’s construction, and liaise with the National Aviation Authority and space agencies regarding the registration of the space object, amongst other matters. The agreement also provides for the installation of a data control and reception infrastructure at UMinho, within the context of the AEROGANP consortium, which aims to strengthen the aerospace sector in Northern Portugal/Galicia and is co-financed by the European programmes Interreg VI-A, POCTEP and ERDF.
The aim of this partnership is to provide advanced training and innovative experiences for students at AFA and UMinho, including laboratory validation of technologies, approval of the small satellite’s payloads, the production of master’s and doctoral theses and technical reports, the organisation of meetings, and the sharing of knowledge between the parties or in applications of operational interest. Furthermore, the initiative aims to consolidate emerging operational capabilities and develop future space missions, thereby strengthening Portugal’s position in the aerospace sector.
SOURCE: UMinho
