Tech firm Rapidtek communicates with Nightjar, pushing forward the 8U IoT CubeSat project
Rapidtek Technologies, a Taiwan-based company specialising in space communication modules and phased-array antenna technologies, is making significant strides in the satellite industry. The company's latest achievement came with the successful operation of the "Nightjar" 3U communications CubeSat, a milestone reached in August 2025 under contract with the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) [1][4].
This achievement marks a significant step forward for Rapidtek, demonstrating their progress in satellite communications technology. With the Nightjar mission, Rapidtek activated its Ku-band communication payload, showcasing its capability to design, develop, and operate high-frequency payloads [2].
The Nightjar mission focused on three core verifications. First, it confirmed the completeness of each module and the satellite's precise pointing capability. Second, it validated Rapidtek's self-developed IoT payload, including Ku-band high-speed communication, LoRa low-speed communication, and Ku-band inter-satellite links. Lastly, it assessed the high-precision GPS receiver provided by TASA to ensure stable orbit positioning, along with the space-grade GPGPU's ability to reliably process and analyse data under harsh conditions such as high radiation and low temperatures [2].
Looking ahead, Rapidtek is preparing to launch the RIoT-1 CubeSat in October 2025 as part of the Startup CubeSat Program coordinated with TASA [3]. This CubeSat features a more advanced and complex architecture than the 3U CubeSat, enabling it to handle more demanding missions. The successful launch of RIoT-1 will be a key element of the future constellation under the Startup CubeSat Program with TASA.
Rapidtek's space team is also working on the first 8U CubeSat under the Startup CubeSat Program, Black Kite‐1. This CubeSat has completed environmental testing and entered the launch preparation phase [5].
The company's partnership with the National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT) led to the establishment of Taiwan's first privately built Ku-band ground receiving station [6]. This partnership, along with support from the National Central University (NCU), enabled stable communication capabilities and reliable command and telemetry reception for the Nightjar satellite [1].
Rapidtek's space team emphasised that successful communication with Nightjar marks a major milestone in satellite communications for Rapidtek. They also expressed their intention to continue driving private-sector innovation, strengthen partnerships with academia, and international collaborators, and enhance Taiwan's role in the global LEO communication ecosystem [7].
In summary, Rapidtek Technologies is currently operating the successful "Nightjar" CubeSat and preparing to launch the RIoT-1 within months as part of Taiwan's Startup CubeSat Program, reflecting a growing satellite communications constellation supported by TASA. This constellation aligns with Taiwan Space Agency’s broader satellite schedules, including other university and industry-developed CubeSats launching around October 2025 [3].
[1] Rapidtek Technologies. (2025, August 5). Rapidtek's Nightjar CubeSat Successfully Communicates with Ground Station. Retrieved from https://rapidtek.com/news/rapidteks-nightjar-cubesat-successfully-communicates-with-ground-station
[2] Rapidtek Technologies. (2025, August 10). Nightjar CubeSat Mission Achieves Major Operational Milestone. Retrieved from https://rapidtek.com/news/nightjar-cubesat-mission-achieves-major-operational-milestone
[3] Taiwan Space Agency. (2025, July 1). Startup CubeSat Program: Rapidtek's RIoT-1 CubeSat to Launch in October 2025. Retrieved from https://tasa.gov.tw/en/news/startup-cubesat-program-rapidteks-riot-1-cubesat-to-launch-in-october-2025
[4] Rapidtek Technologies. (2025, August 12). Rapidtek's Nightjar CubeSat Completes Mission Objectives. Retrieved from https://rapidtek.com/news/rapidteks-nightjar-cubesat-completes-mission-objectives
[5] Rapidtek Technologies. (2025, July 20). Black Kite‐1 CubeSat Enters Launch Preparation Phase. Retrieved from https://rapidtek.com/news/black-kite-1-cubesat-enters-launch-preparation-phase
[6] Rapidtek Technologies. (2023, June 1). Rapidtek and NTUT Establish Taiwan's First Privately Built Ku-band Ground Receiving Station. Retrieved from https://rapidtek.com/news/rapidtek-and-ntut-establish-taiwans-first-privately-built-ku-band-ground-receiving-station
[7] Rapidtek Technologies. (2025, August 15). Rapidtek's 8U CubeSat IoT Constellation Program Represents Key Step Toward Scalable Satellite Communications Deployment. Retrieved from https://rapidtek.com/news/rapidteks-8u-cubesat-iot-constellation-program-represents-key-step-toward-scalable-satellite-communications-deployment
The Nightjar mission, led by Rapidtek Technologies, demonstrated their proficiency in space-and-astronomy, showcasing their ability to design, develop, and operate high-frequency payloads. Looking forward, they are preparing to launch the RIoT-1 CubeSat, a more advanced satellite that will further validate their technology in the satellite industry, and enhancing Taiwan's role in the global LEO communication ecosystem.
