# VZLUSAT-2

> satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q116673859](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116673859)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vzlusat-2

## Summary
VZLUSAT-2 was a Czech CubeSat and artificial satellite operated by VZLU Aerospace. Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 on January 13, 2022, it served as a successor to the earlier VZLUSat-1. The satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere and decayed on November 30, 2025.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** VZLUSAT-2 is an artificial satellite and a CubeSat (a miniaturized satellite made of 10cm-sided cubic modules).
- **Operator:** The satellite was operated by VZLU Aerospace.
- **Country of Origin:** Czech Republic.
- **Launch Date:** January 13, 2022.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It launched aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 (specifically booster B1058) from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40.
- **Predecessor:** It follows VZLUSat-1, a previous Czech satellite.
- **Decay Date:** The satellite's orbit decayed, and it burned up in the atmosphere on November 30, 2025.
- **Identifiers:** The satellite held the COSPAR ID 2022-002DF and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 51085.
- **Mission Context:** According to operator reports, the satellite captured the "first Czech space selfie."

## FAQs
### Q: What kind of satellite was VZLUSAT-2?
A: VZLUSAT-2 was a CubeSat, a class of miniaturized spacecraft built to standard dimensions, operated by the Czech entity VZLU Aerospace.

### Q: When and how was VZLUSAT-2 launched?
A: The satellite launched on January 13, 2022, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida.

### Q: Is VZLUSAT-2 still in orbit?
A: No, VZLUSAT-2 is no longer operational. It re-entered the atmosphere and underwent orbital decay on November 30, 2025.

### Q: What was the relationship between VZLUSAT-2 and VZLUSat-1?
A: VZLUSAT-2 was the successor to VZLUSat-1, continuing the Czech Republic's efforts in space technology.

## Why It Matters
VZLUSAT-2 represents a significant step in the development of Czech space capabilities, serving as a follow-up mission to the country's first satellite, VZLUSat-1. Operated by VZLU Aerospace, the satellite demonstrated the ability of Czech organizations to design, launch, and manage CubeSat missions in low Earth orbit.

The mission is notable for its utilization of the SpaceX Transporter rideshare program, launching aboard the historic Falcon 9 Block 5. During its operational lifespan, the satellite gained recognition for reportedly capturing the "first Czech space selfie," marking a specific technical and public relations achievement for the program. The mission concluded in late 2025, providing a complete dataset from launch to atmospheric decay, which is valuable for studying the orbital lifecycle of small satellites.

## Notable For
- Being the second Czech satellite in the VZLUSat series.
- Launching aboard the Falcon 9 Block 5 booster B1058, a flight-proven rocket stage.
- Reportedly capturing the first "Czech space selfie" (based on operator post-mission reports).
- Having a defined operational lifecycle ending in atmospheric decay on November 30, 2025.

## Body

### Mission Profile and Specifications
VZLUSAT-2 was an artificial satellite classified specifically as a CubeSat, a standard format for miniaturized satellites consisting of 10 cm cubic modules. It was assigned the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 51085 and the international designator COSPAR ID 2022-002DF. The spacecraft was operated by VZLU Aerospace and originated from the Czech Republic.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite successfully launched on January 13, 2022. The deployment was facilitated by a Falcon 9 Block 5 launch vehicle launching from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40. The specific first stage booster used for this mission was B1058.

### Operational History and Conclusion
VZLUSAT-2 operated as a successor to VZLUSat-1. During its time in orbit, it was cited by its operators for taking the first "Czech space selfie." The satellite's mission permanently concluded when it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere; its time of orbit decay is recorded as November 30, 2025.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "VZLUSAT-2",
  "description": "A Czech CubeSat and artificial satellite operated by VZLU Aerospace that launched in 2022 and decayed in 2025.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q122828940",
    "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:VZLUSAT-2"
  ],
  "additionalType": [
    "Artificial Satellite",
    "CubeSat"
  ]
}

## References

1. SATCAT
2. [Source](https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/2581)
3. [2025](https://www.vzlu.cz/druzice-vzlusat-2-ktera-poridila-prvni-ceske-vesmirne-selfie-shorela-v-atmosfere/)
4. CelesTrak