Experiment goes into space
Image source: Jenaer Antriebstechnik
Jenaer Antriebstechnik Supports the Student Space Project SHAREon
Jenaer Antriebstechnik GmbH (JAT) is supporting the student space project SHAREon by sponsoring servo motors and absolute encoders. These high-tech components enable the precise movement and alignment of sensors within the experiment. In doing so, JAT not only contributes to an innovative technical solution but also supports the education of the next generation of engineers. Behind SHAREon (Sensors for High Altitude Research Experiment – Optical Navigation) is an international team of students from Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena and Delft University of Technology. The goal is to develop and test new optical attitude sensors for small satellites.
Two systems are being tested:
- an infrared sensor that can determine a satellite’s orientation based on the Earth’s thermal radiation,
- and a sun sensor based on photodiodes, which operates in three dimensions for the first time and enables particularly precise orientation toward the sun.
The project is part of the renowned Rexus/Bexus program, funded by the German Space Agency at DLR, the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA), and the European Space Agency (ESA). The program offers students a unique opportunity to conduct their own experiments under near-real space conditions. The launch is planned for autumn 2025: the experiment will be tested at an altitude of around 30 kilometers aboard a stratospheric balloon, under conditions surprisingly close to those in Earth orbit. The results will contribute to the further development of miniature satellites, particularly within TU Delft’s PocketQube program. SHAREon is supported by VESPE e.V., a student association from Jena that promotes research and development projects in the field of space technology.
“We see supporting initiatives like this as an investment in the future,” emphasizes JAT Managing Director Simon Schwinger. “Students gain valuable hands-on experience while new ideas for the space technology of tomorrow emerge. As a company with roots in Jena, we are pleased to contribute.”
SHAREon clearly demonstrates how international collaboration and hands-on work at universities can generate innovative solutions for space technology
More information about the project
Vespe Jena e.V.
Vespe Jena e.V. is a non-profit association founded in 2023 by students in Jena who work together on technical and scientific projects related to space technology. The association promotes interdisciplinary thinking, creative prototyping, and independent research. Current projects include an autonomous flight robot, attitude sensors for small satellites, and a stratospheric experiment. Vespe Jena offers motivated students a platform to bring their ideas into practice.
