The countdown for Bochum’s first satellites is underway

Launch on October 1, 2026, at 8:18 p.m. with SpaceX

Three small satellites developed and built in Bochum are set to launch into space: The PocketQubes ERMINAZ-2U, ERMINAZ-2V, and ERMINAZ-2X from the space organization “AMSAT-Deutschland” (AMSAT-DL for short) are scheduled to launch on October 1 at 8:18 p.m. CEST aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg, California. This would mark the first time satellites from Bochum have entered orbit. They were developed, built, and certified for spaceflight in the satellite laboratory located in the radome of the Bochum Observatory.

You can watch the launch live here: https://www.spacex.com/launches/transporter18

Into Orbit with the Satellite Taxi

The satellites, each about five centimeters in size and weighing approximately 250 grams, are traveling aboard the Spanish orbital vehicle OSSIE-D from UARX Space using a so-called PicoBus deployment system. Peter Gülzow, chairman of AMSAT-DL and ERMINAZ project manager, says: “UARX’s OSSIE-D acts as a kind of space taxi that transports smaller satellites and deploys them precisely into their target orbits.” While the space taxi separates from the launch vehicle about an hour after the rocket launch, it can still take days or even weeks before the “passengers from Bochum” are deployed into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 500 kilometers. As soon as the antennas and solar panels are activated, they transmit telemetry, radio signals, and other mission data. Small directional antennas are sufficient for reception; only licensed amateur radio operators are permitted to transmit. A dedicated satellite ground station for these satellites was also set up at the Bochum Observatory for this purpose.

To have a ride

It all began in late 2022 with a successful proposal submitted to the DLR Microlauncher Payload Competition for a ride-share on Rocket Factory Augsburg’s RFA ONE rocket. When the launch of this rocket was delayed, a collaboration with Libre Space from Greece opened up a second opportunity. As a result, the three ERMINAZ-2 satellites are now expected to launch even before ERMINAZ-1. All six PocketQubes were developed and funded by AMSAT-DL—and built by members of the space organization at its headquarters in Bochum.

Experience & Teamwork

Founded in Marburg in 1973, the nonprofit organization AMSAT-DL is one of Germany’s longest-standing noncommercial and nongovernmental space organizations. “AMSAT” stands for Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. For more than 50 years, the association has been developing, building, and operating amateur radio satellites and scientific payloads on a volunteer basis. AMSAT-DL has been based in Bochum since 2017; its collaboration with the Bochum Observatory dates back to 1997 and includes, among other things, the recommissioning of the 20-meter antenna in the radome known as “Kap Kaminski.” Thilo Elsner, director of the Bochum Observatory and vice president of AMSAT-DL: “Together as part of ESERO Germany—the ESA’s education office—AMSAT-DL, the Ruhr University, the University of Applied Sciences, and the Bochum Observatory are creating hands-on access to satellite technology and amateur radio. This strengthens Bochum and North Rhine-Westphalia as a hub for space exploration, research, and education. We are also particularly pleased that at the very site where the first satellite, Sputnik 1, was received 69 years ago, the first satellites are now being built that will make their way into space from Bochum.”

Bochum, September 29, 2026

Peter Gülzow, President of AMSAT-DL

Thilo Elsner, Director of the Bochum Observatory and Vice President of AMSAT-DL

Note for media representatives only:

On Thursday, October 1, 2026, around the planned launch window of 8:00–9:00 p.m., we will offer media representatives the opportunity to gather information on site.

We are offering a second press/media event on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.

The address is the Bochum Observatory’s observatory building, Obernbaakstraße 6, 44797 Bochum

Contact: 0234/ 57989-0

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