Gateway to space: "Austria-Houston" in Graz prepares for a major upgrade while keeping missions active. Satellites TUGSAT‑1, PRETTY, OPS‑SAT, and UniBRITE have all contributed to Austrian space research from Inffeldgasse 12 at the Technische Universität Graz campus. This site is where the satellites were, and are, built and tested. It is also where they are controlled and monitored throughout their missions, which earned the ground station the nickname "Austria-Houston". The building from the 1970s will now undergo a full renovation. Around 10 million euros will be invested by 2028. The missions at a glance: 1. TUGSAT‑1 and UniBRITE, the first Austrian small satellites, launched in 2013. Both operated longer than planned, delivered data on the variability of bright stars, and completed their missions in 2025. 2. OPS‑SAT, a "flying test laboratory", tested new satellite concepts and technologies for more than four years. 3. The mission of the mini climate satellite PRETTY was recently extended until the end of 2026. "Austria-Houston" also includes a clean room for satellite assembly and facilities for essential pre‑launch tests. These tests range from temperature cycles between minus 40 and plus 80 degrees Celsius to trials in the vacuum chamber and on the vibration table. In the area of space technology, the entire spectrum is covered in Austria. From components for satellites and space vehicles to ground equipment and specialised measuring instruments.
🛰️ Austria’s “Austria-Houston” at @tugraz.bsky.social is getting a €10m upgrade. From this ground station in #Graz, satellites like TUGSAT-1, OPS-SAT and PRETTY are built, tested & controlled - strengthening Austria’s role in space research. 🚀
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