The first nanosatellite entirely developed by undergraduate students at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is set to be launched this Sunday, marking a significant achievement for Greece's academic and space research community. Named PeakSat, the nanosatellite is scheduled for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-16 mission.
To mark the satellite's launch, the university is hosting an event titled "AUTH in orbit - PeakSat optical communications nanosatellite" on Sunday, 29 March 2026, at 12:30 in its Ceremonial Hall. During the event, an overview of the project will be provided, followed by a live viewing of the launch and satellite deployment into orbit. Two scientific presentations will follow, discussing PeakSat's optical communication mission and its design and construction by the student team SpaceDot. Satellite models will also be on display, allowing attendees to see PeakSat up close.
PeakSat is Greece's first nanosatellite to be fully designed and built by undergraduate students. The project started in April 2023 and was carried out by the student team SpaceDot under academic supervision from university laboratories. The satellite has already been handed over to Exolaunch, which is responsible for integrating it into the launch mission.
The CubeSat 3U satellite aims to demonstrate optical communication technologies using laser links in low Earth orbit. According to project details, the mission seeks to establish optical communication between the satellite and ground stations in Greece, with a primary station located in Cholomontas, Halkidiki. Data transmission speeds of up to 100 Mbps are expected through this system.
The project is led by Professor Alkiviadis Chatzopoulos from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Professor Kleomenis Tsiganis from the Department of Physics. Multiple university laboratories contributed to the satellite's development, including facilities dedicated to electronics, nanotechnology, and electromagnetic theory. Key subsystems, such as the onboard computer and telecommunications board, were developed entirely within the university.
PeakSat has undergone environmental testing, including thermal vacuum and vibration tests, in accordance with European Space Agency standards, according to the university. The mission is part of the national programme "Greek CubeSats In-Orbit Validation Projects" and is funded through the Recovery and Resilience Facility, with support from Greece's Ministry of Digital Governance and coordination by the European Space Agency.
Beyond its technical goals, the initiative is presented as a training platform for students entering the space sector. "PeakSat is a symbol of the capabilities of the new generation of scientists in our country," said the university's rector, Professor Kyriakos Anastasiadis. He added that such projects reinforce the university's role as a producer of knowledge and innovation, contributing to the development of Greece's space ecosystem.
