UT Tartu Observatory to develop ESTCube-3 satellite with support from European Space Agency

The satellite will be developed by Tartu Observatory researchers and engineers. Once the satellite is complete, students and other space companies will be able to work in a controlled environment, according to cybersecurity principles that include, for example, secure communications and protecting the system against malicious attackers.

“The ESTCube programme, which began as a student project, has made a huge leap towards professionalism. ESTCube-3 is being developed in partnership between the Estonian state, companies and the European Space Agency, in line with Estonia’s ambition to be a flagship for the development of cybersecurity in space technology in Europe. Everyone at the observatory is following this process with great excitement,” said Antti Tamm, Director of Tartu Observatory.

The first phase in the development of ESTCube-3 is scheduled to be completed in summer 2026. According to Kristo Allaje, the ESTCube-3 Project Manager and Engineer at Tartu Observatory, the satellite’s core functions, required modules and a suitable orbit will then be defined based on the mission goals and the needs of companies and other partners. “ESTCube-3 will likely be larger than ESTCube-2, and we will be able to use some of the systems developed for ESTCube-2,” Allaje said.

The development is planned to be carried out in cooperation with the Estonian Student Satellite Foundation, Tallinn University of Technology, Defsecintel Solutions OÜ, Spaceit OÜ and CybExer Technologies OÜ.

Minister for Economy and Industry Erkki Keldo believes that ESTCube-3 will help sustain the continuity of Estonia’s space sector. “ESTCube satellites have shown that Estonian research institutions and companies are capable of creating solutions that attract international attention. It is good that we can support Estonian entrepreneurship and research through European Space Agency programmes. ESTCube-3 offers an opportunity to contribute to the next generation of research-intensive enterprises and to prove to the world that Estonia is capable of leading demanding development projects in the space sector,” said Keldo.

ESTCube-3 is the third satellite in the ESTCube programme. ESTCube-1 reached orbit in 2013 and was built mainly by students. The experience gained during the project helped launch several Estonian technology companies and kick-start the careers of numerous engineers and space experts. The student satellite ESTCube-2 launched in 2023, but for technical reasons unrelated to the satellite, it failed to separate from the launch vehicle and burned up on re-entry into the atmosphere.