Newsflash
2026.01.22
Rapidtek’s Black Kite-1 Completes Cross Regional Communication, Demonstrating LEO Communication Capabilities
The 8U IoT CubeSat Black Kite-1, commissioned by the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) and developed by Rapidtek in collaboration with ITRI, has successfully completed its first cross regional communication.
Since entering orbit, Black Kite-1 has established stable communication links with multiple overseas ground stations, demonstrating the reliable performance of both the satellite communication system and the ground control infrastructure. This achievement lays an important foundation for future low Earth orbit satellite constellations and Internet of Things applications.
The communication campaign covered sites across Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America. Black Kite-1 successfully connected with ground stations in the Azores in Portugal, Iceland, Chile, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, South Africa, and New Zealand. The satellite conducts approximately five communication passes per day, each lasting about eight to ten minutes, maintaining stable performance across different time zones.
At this stage, the mission focuses on validating telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) functions to confirm basic communication and control between the satellite and ground systems. Black Kite-1 currently supports end to end telemetry data transmission and command operations via S-band, forming a key foundation for future communication payload functions and IoT applications.
The successful on orbit communication marks an important milestone in Rapidtek’s satellite communication capabilities. This year, Rapidtek plans to launch three additional 8U IoT CubeSats, advancing global low Earth orbit communication and IoT deployment through constellation operations.
Since entering orbit, Black Kite-1 has established stable communication links with multiple overseas ground stations, demonstrating the reliable performance of both the satellite communication system and the ground control infrastructure. This achievement lays an important foundation for future low Earth orbit satellite constellations and Internet of Things applications.
The communication campaign covered sites across Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America. Black Kite-1 successfully connected with ground stations in the Azores in Portugal, Iceland, Chile, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, South Africa, and New Zealand. The satellite conducts approximately five communication passes per day, each lasting about eight to ten minutes, maintaining stable performance across different time zones.
At this stage, the mission focuses on validating telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) functions to confirm basic communication and control between the satellite and ground systems. Black Kite-1 currently supports end to end telemetry data transmission and command operations via S-band, forming a key foundation for future communication payload functions and IoT applications.
The successful on orbit communication marks an important milestone in Rapidtek’s satellite communication capabilities. This year, Rapidtek plans to launch three additional 8U IoT CubeSats, advancing global low Earth orbit communication and IoT deployment through constellation operations.
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