VZLUSAT-1, THE WORLD'S SECOND LONGEST OPERATING 2U-SIZE SATELLITE, HAS BURNED UP IN THE ATMOSPHERE. IT HAS BECOME THE LONGEST-OPERATING CZECH DRUG EVER IN ORBIT.
VZLUSAT-1, developed at the Czech Aerospace Research Centre (VZLU), went silent. After nearly six years of operation, it stopped communicating on June 6, 2023 and burned up in the atmosphere. His mission was a great success. In its category of 2U-sized satellites, VZLUSAT-1 became the world's second-longest-operating satellite in orbit (source: Airtable.com). At the same time, it became the longest-functioning Czech satellite in orbit. VZLUSAT-1 was communicating until the last day.
The satellite's last contact with our ground station was on Monday morning (2023-06-05 11:34:48), after which VZLUSAT-1 was picked up by a radio amateur in Texas, United States.