Five steps to make your space mission sustainable
1. Think about the goal. Do you actually need a space mission to get what you need? Could you solve the scientific problem without going to space?
2. Use as small and light a spacecraft as possible. Additional mass in orbit carries more risk for other satellites. A smaller mass is also cheaper to launch.
3. Go as low as you can go. In low orbits, the atmospheric drag helps to remove spacecraft from space. Remember that small spacecraft can only be launched to orbits where they come down to our atmosphere in less than 25 years.
4. Build your spacecraft carefully and take time to test the software. Many small spacecraft in space don’t function properly because of poor workmanship―and just contribute to space debris.
5. Design with the end-of-life in mind. The satellite needs a brake that lowers the speed of the satellite and isolates batteries at the end of the mission. Remove your equipment from space as soon as your mission allows.
From clean energy to personalized medicine – a book about the power of the university
The Aalto Effect is a tribute to the ambitious and uncompromising work of dozens of researchers.
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Unite! Seed Fund 2026: Open for applications
The 2026 Unite! Seed Fund call is officially open, offering funding across three strategic lines: Student Activities, Teaching and Learning, and Research and PhD. Deadline for applications is 20 March 2026.
Apply now: Unite! Seed Fund 2026 - Student Call
The Unite! Seed Fund call for 2026 is now open for students. Apply now for up to €20,000 per project, involving at least two Unite! Universities. Deadline for applications is 20 March 2026.Create your CV easily with the Research.fi profile tool
Aalto University’s researchers can now create a CV using the CV tool in the Research tool service. The tool generates an editable Word CV based on your Research.fi profile information, following the official TENK CV template.