The CorkSat, an innovative CubeSat developed at the University of Aveiro (UA), has successfully completed the first phase of its development, marking an important milestone towards its future deployment in Earth orbit. The achievement was presented during the "Satellites at the University of Aveiro" event, held on 3 July, which also featured the inauguration of a pioneering aerospace engineering laboratory.

During the demonstration, the satellite was launched aboard a drone to an altitude of several dozen metres, successfully transmitting data to a ground station and validating the first stage of the project.

CorkSat stands out for its structure made from cork, a renewable, lightweight material with excellent thermal insulation properties. These characteristics make cork particularly suitable for space applications while also offering environmental advantages when the satellite eventually re-enters Earth's atmosphere at the end of its operational life. The material also reflects Portugal's cultural heritage and regional identity.

Beyond its innovative structure, CorkSat incorporates systems designed to monitor cork degradation during the mission, as well as spectral monitoring technologies. The satellite is externally covered with photovoltaic panels mounted on the cork-based structure, enabling energy generation during operation.

The project was conceived by Nuno Borges de Carvalho, Director of the Department of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics (DETI), and Martinho Oliveira, Director of the School of Design, Management and Production Technologies of Northern Aveiro (ESAN), who highlighted the initiative's pioneering and experimental nature.

CorkSat is a multidisciplinary collaborative project involving more than 50 faculty members, researchers and students from the fields of Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Informatics, Physics and Mechanical Engineering. The project also benefits from the participation of ESAN, an academic unit integrated within CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, contributing expertise in materials science to the satellite's innovative design.

Supported by the PRR New Space Portugal Agenda, the initiative has been structured in three development phases. Following the successful demonstration flight, the next stage will involve launching the satellite using a meteorological balloon to reach altitudes of several kilometres and validate its systems under near-space conditions.

The final objective is to place CorkSat into Earth orbit. Achieving this milestone will require securing additional funding to cover launch costs, estimated at several tens of thousands of euros. To support this goal, the project team is seeking partnerships with companies interested in contributing to the mission while promoting innovation in Portugal's growing space sector.

The technologies developed for CorkSat have already been patented with the support of UACOOPERA, the University of Aveiro's office responsible for intellectual property protection and technology transfer.

By combining sustainable materials, aerospace engineering and multidisciplinary collaboration, CorkSat demonstrates how innovation developed at the University of Aveiro is contributing to the advancement of space technologies while opening new opportunities for research and industrial collaboration.