Artist's impression of the LacunaSat-2B satellite
LacunaSat-2B successfully completes mission and deorbits sustainably
A nanosatellite that supported global connectivity by collecting data from Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices in remote locations, LacunaSat-2B, has successfully completed its three-year mission and deorbited into Earth's atmosphere in late April. During its mission, the satellite demonstrated a commitment to sustainability and provided previously inaccessible data for various sectors, including environmental studies, agriculture and wildlife monitoring.
Collaboration and commitment to sustainability
Launched in March 2021, LacunaSat-2B was made possible through the collaboration of ESA, IoT connectivity provider Lacuna Space, and mission operator Open Cosmos. The CubeSat was developed under an ESA Pioneer Partnership Project and received support from the ESA Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) and Core Competitiveness programmes. Additionally, the project was co-funded by Lacuna Space, Open Cosmos and the UK Space Agency.
As ESA, Lacuna Space and Open Cosmos share a common commitment to sustainability, and the 'zero debris by 2030' aim, the spacecraft was intentionally launched with a naturally decaying orbit that continuously brought it closer to Earth. This approach was well within ESA’s Space Debris Mitigation requirement of a five-year deorbit, as the satellite completely burned up upon atmospheric re-entry.
Impact and success of LacunaSat-2B
As part of Lacuna's satellite constellation, LacunaSat-2B played a crucial role in enabling a variety of projects aimed at sustainable resource utilisation and securing the planet's future. The satellite helped provide connectivity in remote locations, including those at sea or in hard-to-reach areas such as deserts or rural regions. Additionally, the satellite worked within Lacuna’s constellation to support numerous applications, from tracking elephants in Africa to collecting vital environmental data from isolated regions of South America.
One market that particularly benefits from Lacuna’s constellation is agriculture. Often located in remote areas beyond the reach of terrestrial networks, agricultural operations are seeing increased efficiency in land, water and fertiliser use thanks to Lacuna’s IoT satellite monitoring capabilities. LacunaSat-2B has also contributed to environmental studies, providing weather data, monitoring pollution and supporting carbon sequestration projects by verifying carbon credits.
Lacuna’s ground-breaking IoT payload technology demonstrates how satellites, such as LacunaSat-2B, can receive long-range, low-power signals directly from devices on Earth. The satellite's design prioritised robustness and resilience, ensuring reliability during launch and in-space operation. LacunaSat-2B's success has demonstrated the real-world impact of space technology and helped pave the way for Lacuna's expansion plans, including expanding their constellation.
