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Vytenis Buzas and Laurynas Mačiulis, the creators of the first Lithuanian satellite, decided to name it ‘LituanicaSAT-1’ in commemoration of the 80^th Anniversary of Darius and Girėnas’ heroic flight.

For their flight, Darius and Girėnas purchased and remade a single-engine aircraft, which was used for long-haul flights during the interwar period. Although Darius and Girėnas were flying in extremely adverse conditions, without a radio, autopilot or any other modern navigation devices, their flight is still being considered one of the most navigationally precise flights in aviation history. Similarly, ‘LituanicaSAT-1’, adhering to the popular ‘cubesat’ standard, is a unique nano-satellite, created by a team of young Lithuanian scientists, informs delfi.lt.

In order to commemorate the Darius and Girėnas’ flight, the ‘LituanicaSAT-1’ team is finalising the satellite system’s integration works.

The radio communication equipment, which will broadcast from the cosmos in Lithuanian, is already tested by the researchers Simonas Kareiva and Dr. Karolis Petrauskas from Vilnius University and an amateur radio operator Žilvinas Batisa.

The flight computer, integrated satellite sensors, and camera, which will send the first pictures from the cosmos to Lithuania, are also being tested by researchers Vytautas Valaitis, Marius Dvarecas and Donatas Srėbalius from Vilnius University.

The antenna deployment mechanism has also been developed. All of these satellite components meet NASA’s high technical requirements and operate as a unified system. When ‘LituanicaSAT-1’ is launched into orbit around the Earth, it will explore space and test Lithuanians’ developed technologies in extreme conditions.

A team of 30 Lithuanian scientists, researchers and engineers, who live not only in Lithuania, but also far beyond its borders, is working on the ‘LituanicaSAT-1’ satellite. The project is also being supported by 22 organisations and companies.