Catarina-A2 is a telecommunications nanosatellite dedicated to environmental data collection, developed by the SENAI Institute for Innovation in Embedded Systems (Santa Catarina) in partnership with the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB). The project originated after Hurricane Catarina and Cyclone Bomba — the first tropical cyclone ever recorded in the South Atlantic — when the lack of high-resolution atmospheric and oceanic data severely hampered forecasting and monitoring efforts.
Orbiting at approximately 500 km altitude and weighing about 3.16 kg, the satellite receives data from ground-based environmental monitoring stations (PCDs), temporarily stores it, and relays the information to Earth control stations — supporting weather forecasting, natural disaster monitoring, water resource management, and agricultural planning.
Key subsystems: Onboard Computer running mission-specific software on an embedded real-time operating system (RTOS), coordinating all satellite operations; Software-Defined Radio (SDR) as a secondary payload, receiving PCD data, transmitting telemetry, and enabling remote in-orbit software updates; GPS antenna and Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) using magnetorquers to stabilize orientation; aerospace-grade aluminum structure with integrated radiation shielding; solar panels and batteries ensuring 3-day autonomy during Earth eclipse; deployable monopole antenna system for ground station communication.
Catarina-A2 serves as the catalyst for BRASSAT — the Brazilian Small Satellite Constellation — aimed at consolidating a national ecosystem for satellite services, expanding technological capacity, reducing external dependencies, and strengthening Brazil's strategic autonomy in space.
Partners: SENAI Innovation Institute for Embedded Systems (SC), UFSC, AEB – Brazilian Space Agency, Constelação Catarina.
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