TOM 1, 2, 3

TOM [ZFT]

TOM (Telematics Earth Observation Mission) is a German Earth observation mission consisting of three 3U CubeSats developed by a national consortium led by the Zentrum für Telematik (ZFT) in Würzburg. Funded by the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, the satellites were launched in July 2026 aboard SpaceX's Transporter-17 rideshare mission into a sun-synchronous orbit. TOM forms Bavaria's contribution to the international Telematics International Mission (TIM), a multinational nanosatellite program for Earth observation.

The mission's primary objective is the three-dimensional observation of volcanic ash clouds using photogrammetric techniques. Flying in a controlled formation, the three satellites simultaneously image the same target area from different viewing angles, allowing the generation of three-dimensional models of volcanic plumes. The measurements are intended to improve the monitoring of volcanic eruptions, providing data on the spatial extent, altitude, and structure of ash clouds that can affect aviation, public health, and agriculture. In addition to Earth observation, the mission also serves as a technology demonstrator for inter-satellite communications and distributed satellite networking, including experiments on routing, scheduling, and communication protocols.

The TOM satellites are built in the 3U CubeSat form factor. Each spacecraft carries two optical cameras developed by the Zentrum für Telematik, primarily for redundancy. The cameras feature a 100 mm focal length and 5-megapixel image sensor, providing a ground sampling distance of approximately 30 m from an operational altitude of about 600 km. The instruments operate in the visible RGB spectrum, with one camera on each satellite additionally equipped with a linear polarizing filter to support atmospheric observations. The satellites are connected through inter-satellite links, allowing Earth observation data to be relayed through the constellation before downlink via a network of ground stations operated by ZFT, the University of Würzburg, and international TIM partners.

The mission is coordinated by the Zentrum für Telematik, which is responsible for satellite development, system integration, and mission operations. The Technical University of Munich contributes as an industrial partner, while the University of Würzburg supports communications and onboard data processing. International TIM partners include the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (China), the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (Brazil), École Polytechnique de Montréal (Canada), and Stellenbosch University (South Africa). The TOM project began in February 2017 and completed development with the launch of its three satellites in 2026.