ABRIXAS & Megsat 0

The ABRIXAS (A Broadband Imaging X-Ray All-Sky Survey) small satellite (A BRoadband Imaging X-ray All-sky Survey Satellite) was designed to perform the first complete survey of the sky with an imaging telescope in the X-ray energy range from 0.5 to 10 keV. ABRIXAS was to discover more than 10,000 new X-ray sources mainly active galaxies above 2 keV. In the centres of these galaxies, presumably black holes convert gravitational energy into high-energy radiation. Very often, like in our galaxy, clouds of gas and dust, which can be penetrated by high energy X-rays, cover the centres. Shortly after launch, the main battery overheated due to overcharging and failed. A workaround to communicate with the satellite when its solar arrays were sunlit was tried out, but after three days the communication attempts failed, rendering the mission a complete loss. In 2003 a reflight of the ABRIXAS instrument as a NASA SMEX mission under the name DUO (Dark Universe Observatory) was under study, but was not selected. ABRIXAS reentered the atmosphere on 31 October 2017.

MegSat (Meggiorin Satellite) is part of Meggiorin Group, a group of 13 companies that is a leader in the field of radio telecommunications and mobile phone products. MegSat is specialized in designing and developing complete solutions for data transmission applicable to different sectors - from energy distribution companies to major industrial and oil sectors, from the environmental and infrastructure sector to that of transport. With its 30 years of experience in the field of telecommunications, the company has developed highly specialized know-how, so that today MegSat is capable of providing its customers with the best technical and management solutions. On 28 April 1999 and on 26 September 2000, MegSat launched the first two of a small constellation of microsatellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), with the aim of starting a system of competitive and technologically innovative services, especially conceived to collect and process data acquired with the "Store and Forward" method from plants supplying water, gas and energy, as well as from data-loggers for environmental, industrial and transport monitoring. MegSat is also licensed to use other constellations of LEO satellites sending and receiving data in "Near Real Time", thereby providing in particular transport monitoring services. Furthermore, the company has the possibility to use geostationary satellites, which allow for the transmission of large quantities of data.