Sputnix

Sputnix is a Russian privately owned space company focused on the design, construction, testing, and support of small satellites and related space technologies. The company was established in 2011 from the satellite-technology activities of ScanEx and is headquartered at the Skolkovo Innovation Center in Moscow. It is described as one of Russia’s early private space companies. The company’s origins lie in the development of satellite orientation and stabilization technology. Before Sputnix became an independent branded space business, the relevant ScanEx department worked on the attitude-control and stabilization system for the Chibis-M microsatellite, a project commissioned by the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This technical background shaped Sputnix’s subsequent emphasis on spacecraft control systems, small-satellite platforms, and practical mission integration. In 2013, Sputnix obtained a license from the Russian Federal Space Agency to conduct space activities. It then developed TabletSat-Aurora, a microsatellite technology demonstrator intended to validate spacecraft systems and operational capabilities. TabletSat-Aurora was launched into low Earth orbit on 19 June 2014 aboard a Ukrainian Dnepr launch vehicle under a contract involving International Space Company Kosmotras. The mission represented an important transition from component and subsystem development to the company’s own satellite technology demonstration. Sputnix later expanded its platform portfolio. In 2017 it developed OrbiСraft-Pro, a satellite platform based on the international CubeSat standard. The platform functions as a configurable design and assembly system for nanosatellites with different payloads and mission purposes. Its applications include scientific research, technology demonstrations, and education. SiriusSat-1 and SiriusSat-2, two scientific and educational satellites built using the OrbiСraft-Pro platform, were deployed from the International Space Station on 15 August 2018. Both spacecraft subsequently decayed from orbit on 9 December 2020. Beyond complete spacecraft, Sputnix develops attitude-determination and control systems, orientation and stabilization equipment, satellite service systems, and test benches for studying small-satellite dynamics. Its test equipment can simulate aspects of the space environment, including low-gravity conditions, changing magnetic fields, sunlight, and a star-filled sky. The company also develops ground communication-station equipment and software for receiving and processing satellite data. Education is a significant part of Sputnix’s business scope. The company supplies functional satellite kits, ground receiving stations, space-environment simulators, and supporting educational materials to schools, universities, and aerospace laboratories. These offerings are intended to let students and researchers study satellite engineering, spacecraft control, communications, and mission operations through practical projects. Sputnix presents itself as both a satellite manufacturer and a provider of enabling infrastructure for small-space missions. Its activities span spacecraft platforms, subsystems, testing, ground communications, educational hardware, and technical support. Reference material describes the company as an experienced producer and exporter in the space sector, although publicly available material supplied for this dossier does not establish current revenue, ownership details, workforce size, or a complete list of present-day missions. Its documented history nevertheless shows a progression from ScanEx-derived satellite-control expertise to licensed spacecraft development, orbital technology demonstrations, CubeSat platforms, and international-facing educational and engineering products.

Sputnix was founded in 2011 by ScanEx’s satellite-technology department and became one of Russia’s early private space companies. Its technical roots were in the development of satellite orientation and stabilization systems. The department had worked on the Chibis-M microsatellite for the Russian Space Research Institute, giving the future company experience in spacecraft attitude control and small-satellite engineering. The company is based at the Skolkovo Innovation Center in Moscow. In 2013, it received a license from the Russian Federal Space Agency to carry out space activities. This regulatory milestone supported its move from subsystem development toward complete spacecraft and technology-demonstration missions. Sputnix subsequently developed TabletSat-Aurora, a microsatellite intended to demonstrate satellite technologies in orbit. TabletSat-Aurora was launched into low Earth orbit on 19 June 2014 aboard a Ukrainian Dnepr launch vehicle. The launch was conducted under a contract between Sputnix and International Space Company Kosmotras. The mission established an orbital demonstration record for the company and illustrated its ability to participate in an end-to-end small-space project. Sputnix broadened its product range in 2017 with OrbiСraft-Pro, a platform based on the international CubeSat standard. Rather than being limited to one spacecraft configuration, the platform was designed as a construction and integration system that could support different nanosatellite layouts and payloads. This approach allowed the same underlying platform concept to be adapted for technology experiments, scientific work, and education. Two satellites associated with the platform, SiriusSat-1 and SiriusSat-2, were built for scientific and educational purposes. They were deployed from the International Space Station on 15 August 2018. Their orbital identifiers were recorded as COSPAR 1998-067PG and COSPAR 1998-067PH, respectively, and both spacecraft decayed from orbit on 9 December 2020. The company’s technical activities extend beyond spacecraft buses. Sputnix develops attitude-determination and control systems, orientation and stabilization equipment, and other service systems for microsatellites and CubeSats. It also produces equipment and software for ground communication stations. For engineering and research organizations, it offers attitude-control test benches that reproduce selected elements of the space environment, including simulated zero-gravity conditions, nonuniform and changing magnetic fields, sunlight, and a star-field view. A further part of the company’s work is aerospace education. Sputnix supplies satellite functional kits, data-receiving ground stations, space-environment simulators, educational materials, and related equipment to schools, universities, and aerospace laboratories. These products support practical instruction in satellite construction, communications, spacecraft dynamics, and mission operations. The available reference material characterizes Sputnix as an experienced producer and exporter in the space sector. It does not provide enough information to document current corporate ownership, financial performance, a complete executive roster, or the company’s full contemporary mission portfolio. The documented historical trajectory is nevertheless clear: Sputnix developed from ScanEx’s satellite-control expertise into a licensed private spacecraft company with its own orbital technology demonstrator, a CubeSat-oriented platform, satellite subsystems, ground infrastructure, and educational offerings.

• 2020

  SiriusSat-1 and SiriusSat-2 decay from orbit

  [1]Sputnixen.wikipedia.org

  Both SiriusSat spacecraft were recorded as having decayed from orbit on 9 December 2020.

• 2018

  SiriusSat satellites are deployed from the ISS

  [1]Sputnixen.wikipedia.org

  SiriusSat-1 and SiriusSat-2, built with the OrbiСraft-Pro platform, were deployed from the International Space Station on 15 August.

• 2017

  Introduces the OrbiСraft-Pro platform

  [1]Sputnixen.wikipedia.org

  Sputnix developed OrbiСraft-Pro, a configurable nanosatellite platform based on the CubeSat standard.

• 2014

  TabletSat-Aurora reaches low Earth orbit

  [1]Sputnixen.wikipedia.org

  TabletSat-Aurora was launched on a Ukrainian Dnepr rocket on 19 June under a contract involving Kosmotras.

• 2013

  Receives a Russian space-activity license

  [1]Sputnixen.wikipedia.org

  Sputnix received a license from the Russian Federal Space Agency and began developing the TabletSat-Aurora microsatellite technology demonstrator.

• 2011

  Sputnix is established from ScanEx’s satellite-technology department

  [1]Sputnixen.wikipedia.org

  ScanEx’s satellite technology department was established as Sputnix, creating a private Russian company focused on small satellites and spacecraft systems.

A Russian small-space specialist combining spacecraft platforms, satellite-control subsystems, ground equipment, testing tools, and hands-on aerospace education.

• Microsatellite technology demonstrator · 2014

  TabletSat-Aurora

  TabletSat-Aurora was Sputnix’s early microsatellite technology demonstrator. It was developed after the company received authorization to conduct space activities and was launched into low Earth orbit on 19 June 2014 aboard a Ukrainian Dnepr rocket. The spacecraft represented the company’s move from satellite subsystems toward the development and orbital demonstration of an integrated small spacecraft.

• CubeSat and nanosatellite platform · 2017

  OrbiСraft-Pro

  OrbiСraft-Pro is a configurable satellite platform based on the international CubeSat standard. It was designed as a construction and integration kit that can support different nanosatellite configurations and payloads. The platform is intended for scientific missions, technology demonstrations, and educational projects, allowing users to adapt a common spacecraft architecture to different experiments and learning objectives.

• Scientific and educational satellites · 2018

  SiriusSat-1 and SiriusSat-2

  SiriusSat-1 and SiriusSat-2 were scientific and educational satellites created with the OrbiСraft-Pro platform. They were deployed from the International Space Station on 15 August 2018. The spacecraft formed part of Sputnix’s work in using small satellites for practical aerospace learning and technology-oriented missions. Both satellites later decayed from orbit on 9 December 2020.

• Satellite subsystem

  Attitude-determination and control systems

  Sputnix develops orientation, stabilization, and attitude-determination and control systems for microsatellites and CubeSats. These systems support the control of spacecraft orientation and are part of the company’s broader small-satellite engineering portfolio, which grew from earlier ScanEx work on microsatellite stabilization technology.

• Ground segment equipment

  Ground communication stations and software

  The company provides equipment and software for ground communication stations used with small-satellite missions. Its ground-segment activities are connected with satellite data reception and mission support, and are also used in educational aerospace laboratories and practical training environments.

• Satellite testing and research equipment

  Space-environment simulators and ADCS test benches

  Sputnix develops test benches for researching the dynamics of small satellites and evaluating attitude-control systems. The equipment can simulate selected space-environment conditions, including zero-gravity operation, changing magnetic fields, sunlight, and a star-filled sky. These tools are intended for engineering research, validation, and aerospace education.

• Educational aerospace equipment

  Aerospace education kits

  Sputnix supplies functional satellite kits, receiving ground stations, space-environment simulators, and educational materials for schools, universities, and aerospace laboratories. The kits are intended to give learners practical exposure to spacecraft construction, communications, satellite operations, and related engineering disciplines.

• 2017

  Adopts a configurable CubeSat-based platform strategyProduct launch

  Background

  After demonstrating an integrated microsatellite with TabletSat-Aurora, Sputnix expanded its small-space offering toward repeatable nanosatellite architectures and educational applications.

  Action taken

  The company developed OrbiСraft-Pro as a configurable platform based on the international CubeSat standard, supporting multiple spacecraft configurations and payloads.

  Aftermath

  The platform was used to create the SiriusSat-1 and SiriusSat-2 scientific and educational satellites, which were deployed from the International Space Station in 2018.

  Source

• 2021-10-26

  Sputnix demonstrates SXC6 nanosatellite platform[2]Sputnix展示SXC6纳米卫星平台tass.com

  Reported: 2021-10-26

  Sputnix demonstrated its new SXC6 nanosatellite Earth observation platform at the 72nd International Astronautical Congress in Dubai.

1. 1Sputnixen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Sputnix展示SXC6纳米卫星平台tass.com