New ESA satellite comes from Austria

© FFG / Morgenstern

The Graz University of Technology is collaborating with the company RUAG Space to build a new micro satellite for the European Space Agency (ESA).

The “Cubesat” named PRETTY (Passive REflecTomeTY) is a nanosatellite made of three cubes, each of which is 10x10x10 centimeters in size and thus a bit bigger than a carton of milk. Its task is to be the first nanosatellite to measure and register ice on the glaciers or on the poles and wave movements of the oceans. The new Cubesat is part of the global environmental and weather monitoring efforts of ESA and is designed to contribute to researching climate change. Cubesat PRETTY represents the fifth satellite “Made in Austria” to be launched into space.