Rapidtek Technologies: Black Kite-2 Successfully Communicates, Satellite Validation Progresses from Single-Point to Continuous
Rapidtek Technologies announced the successful communication link-up of 'Black Kite-2,' its second 8U IoT CubeSat developed for the National Space Organization (TASA). This achievement marks a significant step in satellite validation, moving from single-point to continuous verification. The company plans to launch two more 8U CubeSats with inter-satellite communication capabilities by the end of 2026.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 14:27
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 14:31 (4 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 03:18 (12h 46m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Pan Chih-Ya, Taipei 27th) Communication network manufacturer Rapidtek Technologies today announced that 'Black Kite-2,' its second 8U Internet of Things (IoT) CubeSat developed for the National Space Organization (TASA)'s innovative star-chasing CubeSat project, successfully completed its satellite-to-ground station communication link-up after orbit insertion. This not only extends the achievement of the first 8U satellite successfully establishing a communication link but also further demonstrates an improvement in mission process and communication establishment efficiency, transitioning from single-point validation to the continuous validation stage.
Rapidtek Technologies pointed out that TASA launched the innovative star-chasing 8U IoT CubeSat project in 2023, commissioning Rapidtek Technologies to develop four 8U CubeSats. Black Kite-2 successfully received beacon signals within approximately 20 minutes after orbit insertion, significantly earlier than the first satellite, indicating the team's greater maturity in mission preparation and satellite operation procedures.
In addition, Black Kite-2 has optimized ground operations through accumulated in-orbit experience, enabling faster initial health status confirmation after satellite insertion. Currently, Black Kite-2 maintains stable connections with multiple overseas ground stations, demonstrating good continuity and reliability of the overall communication link and system integration capabilities.
Rapidtek Technologies stated that Black Kite-2 has now entered the attitude determination and control system (ADCS) adjustment phase to gradually establish stable satellite attitude. Once attitude control is stable, in-orbit validation of the payload will commence sequentially to confirm the communication function's performance and application potential in the actual orbital environment.
Compared to Black Kite-1, Rapidtek Technologies stated that this mission not only continues the existing communication architecture but also increased the orbital altitude from approximately 510 kilometers to about 590 kilometers. This allows the satellite to accumulate more representative in-orbit operational data under different orbital conditions, serving as an important basis for subsequent system optimization and mission design.
Rapidtek Technologies Chairman Wang Yi-Hsiang stated that the key to low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite development is not just single-satellite performance validation but the ability to stably replicate mission processes, continuously accumulate in-orbit data, and gradually transition to multi-satellite collaborative operation and scaled development. The successful communication of Black Kite-2 is a critical step on this path, moving from 'validating one satellite' to 'validating a system.'
Wang Yi-Hsiang emphasized that Rapidtek Technologies will continue to advance its LEO satellite layout, moving towards small satellite constellations and application deployment. They expect to launch two more 8U CubeSats with inter-satellite communication capabilities as early as the end of 2026, further validating cross-satellite data exchange capabilities and gradually establishing an independent LEO IoT communication constellation architecture. (Edited by Su Chih-Chung) 1150427
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(Central News Agency reporter Pan Chih-Ya, Taipei 27th) Communication network manufacturer Rapidtek Technologies today announced that 'Black Kite-2,' its second 8U Internet of Things (IoT) CubeSat developed for the National Space Organization (TASA)'s innovative star-chasing CubeSat project, successfully completed its satellite-to-ground station communication link-up after orbit insertion. This not only extends the achievement of the first 8U satellite successfully establishing a communication link but also further demonstrates an improvement in mission process and communication establishment efficiency, transitioning from single-point validation to the continuous validation stage.
Rapidtek Technologies pointed out that TASA launched the innovative star-chasing 8U IoT CubeSat project in 2023, commissioning Rapidtek Technologies to develop four 8U CubeSats. Black Kite-2 successfully received beacon signals within approximately 20 minutes after orbit insertion, significantly earlier than the first satellite, indicating the team's greater maturity in mission preparation and satellite operation procedures.
In addition, Black Kite-2 has optimized ground operations through accumulated in-orbit experience, enabling faster initial health status confirmation after satellite insertion. Currently, Black Kite-2 maintains stable connections with multiple overseas ground stations, demonstrating good continuity and reliability of the overall communication link and system integration capabilities.
Rapidtek Technologies stated that Black Kite-2 has now entered the attitude determination and control system (ADCS) adjustment phase to gradually establish stable satellite attitude. Once attitude control is stable, in-orbit validation of the payload will commence sequentially to confirm the communication function's performance and application potential in the actual orbital environment.
Compared to Black Kite-1, Rapidtek Technologies stated that this mission not only continues the existing communication architecture but also increased the orbital altitude from approximately 510 kilometers to about 590 kilometers. This allows the satellite to accumulate more representative in-orbit operational data under different orbital conditions, serving as an important basis for subsequent system optimization and mission design.
Rapidtek Technologies Chairman Wang Yi-Hsiang stated that the key to low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite development is not just single-satellite performance validation but the ability to stably replicate mission processes, continuously accumulate in-orbit data, and gradually transition to multi-satellite collaborative operation and scaled development. The successful communication of Black Kite-2 is a critical step on this path, moving from 'validating one satellite' to 'validating a system.'
Wang Yi-Hsiang emphasized that Rapidtek Technologies will continue to advance its LEO satellite layout, moving towards small satellite constellations and application deployment. They expect to launch two more 8U CubeSats with inter-satellite communication capabilities as early as the end of 2026, further validating cross-satellite data exchange capabilities and gradually establishing an independent LEO IoT communication constellation architecture. (Edited by Su Chih-Chung) 1150427
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide supports the power of press freedom.
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Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.