A SpaceX rocket carrying the Greek nanosatellite PeakSat was launched on Monday, marking a milestone for student-led space research in Thessaloniki. The satellite was developed by SpaceDot, a student team at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, under the supervision of faculty from the university's science departments.
The launch was watched live by the student creators and their professors at the university observatory, with an imminent release into orbit and the establishment of laser communication between PeakSat and the university's ground station in Cholomontas, Halkidiki, at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometres.
The AUTh proposal was one of seven nationwide proposals selected, securing the institutional and financial backing needed to complete the satellite. The project builds on earlier experience: the core of the SpaceDot team was formed in 2019 through participation in ESA's "Fly Your Satellite 3" programme, where it secured one of three available places. That earlier success helped establish a research base and contributed to subsequent initiatives such as AcubeSAT.
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The satellite was designed and assembled by undergraduate students over three years. Their work involved designing, developing, assembling, and repeatedly testing subsystems to ensure operation in the extreme conditions of space. According to the project description, the team addressed technical challenges, including developing optical communication systems and ensuring resilience against vibrations and extreme temperature fluctuations during launch and in orbit.
Read more: Student-built nanosatellite from Thessaloniki university set for SpaceX launch
As part of the ground infrastructure, one of AUTh's telescopes in Cholomontas was upgraded to communicate with PeakSat. A new 80-centimetre telescope is also expected to become operational in the coming months, with capabilities including direct reception of optical and electrical signals using quantum encryption.
The project, overseen by scientific leads Alkiviadis Chatzopoulos and Kleomenis Tsiganis, began in 2023 under the "Greek CubeSats In-Orbit Validation Projects" programme of the Ministry of Digital Governance, which provided the primary funding. The European Space Agency (ESA) also supported the effort, especially through technical expertise and advisory guidance.
Alongside PeakSat, another Greek-made satellite, the OPTISAT CubeSat developed by Planetek Hellas, was on the same mission. Officials described this as a new phase in Greece's national capabilities for secure satellite communications. Financed by the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Facility, OPTISAT was carried out under a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) and is part of Greece's National Micro-Satellites Programme.
