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Nightjar [Rapidtek]
Nightjar is a Taiwanese 3U CubeSat technology demonstration satellite developed by Rapidtek in cooperation with the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA). The satellite was built by NanoAvionics on its M3P CubeSat platform and carries a Ku-band software-defined radio (SDR) communications payload to demonstrate high-speed space-to-ground Internet of Things (IoT) communications and validate domestically developed satellite technology.
The mission serves as Rapidtek's first in-orbit demonstration of a complete communications satellite system. While NanoAvionics supplied the satellite bus, Rapidtek designed and integrated the communications payload and overall satellite architecture in-house. Following launch, the satellite successfully established two-way communications with its ground station and demonstrated stable operation of the Ku-band payload, verifying the company's high-frequency communications technology under operational conditions. The mission achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8, confirming that the system is suitable for commercial deployment.
To support the mission, Rapidtek and National Taipei University of Technology established Taiwan's first privately operated Ku-band satellite ground station, enabling payload testing and mission operations. The successful demonstration provides the technical basis for Rapidtek's planned low Earth orbit IoT communications constellation.
The experience gained with Nightjar is being applied to Rapidtek's next-generation 8U CubeSat program. Four larger satellites, designated Black Kite-1 to 4, are planned for launch between late 2025 and mid-2026 to validate an operational LEO IoT communications constellation using the company's domestically developed satellite and communications technologies.
| Nation: | Taiwan (Republic of China) |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Communication (IoT) |
| Operator: | Rapidtek Technologies |
| Contractors: | Rapidtek Technologies |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | CubeSat (3U) |
| Propulsion: | |
| Power: | 2 deployable, fixed solar arrays, body mounted solar cells, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | |
| Orbit: |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nightjar | 2024-149BV | 16.08.2024 | Va SLC-4E | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with Capella 15, Tyche, AWS, QPS-SAR 8, Van Zyl 1, Tanager 1, EagleEye, Umbra-SAR 09, 10, ICEYE X33, X39, X40, X43, ŅuSat 48, ..., 50, GNOMES 5, Hawk 10A, 10B, 10C, LUR 1, ION-SCV 012, Sedna 1, Lemur-2 193, ..., 196, Hubble 3, ERNST, CAKRA 1, BRO 14, 15, Connecta-IoT 1, ..., 4, CUAVA 2, Hyperfield 1A, HYPSO 2, Iperdrone.0, Kanyini, Lemu Nge, Φ-sat 2, PTD 4, PTD R, Sateliot 1, 2, 3, 4, Tomorrow S1, 2, TROOP F2, Waratah Seed 1, WREN 1, Flock-4be 1, ..., 36, GNA-3, Lemur-2 191, 192, Nightjar, QUBE, SATORO T2, TORO, UM5-EOSat, UM5-Ribat, Deimos, Lopen, Rock, OreSat 0.5, GaindéSat 1A, Pico 1B-1, ..., 9 |
Launch Sites:
- Va = Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA
References:
- RapidTec: Successful Nightjar Mission Opens Path for Rapidtek's 8U IoT CubeSats, 1 Aug 2025
