ZAGREB, 31 Jan (Hina) – The first Croatian nanosatellite, CroCube, launched in December, has sent its first image of Croatia from space, captured using its onboard camera, which is a major technological milestone for Croatia and a step forward in its space exploration ambitions, the CroCube project leaders said on Friday.

“This photograph represents a major moment for the Croatian space sector, confirming the functionality of the satellite’s imaging and data transmission systems. The project demonstrates how innovation, knowledge, and collaboration can place Croatia on the global space map,” they added.

CroCube was launched on 21 December aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The image, in which Croatia is visible, was captured on 28 January at 08:16 Croatian time, after which it was downloaded to a computer and analysed to determine its contents.

Daniela Jović, the CroCube mission director, said space images from Croatia’s first satellite represented an incredible achievement for the country, confirming the success of the mission and paving the way for future space projects.

“In the image sent from orbit, Croatia’s territory can be seen along with parts of Italy and Slovenia. Although much of the view is obscured by clouds, the outlines of the land, mountain ranges, and geographic formations shaping the region are distinguishable,” Jović said.

CroCube is a nanosatellite measuring 10 x 10 x 10 cm and weighing 1.1 kg, which will spend the next two years in orbit at 510 km altitude, capturing images of Earth and conducting scientific measurements. The first image, along with additional footage, will soon be available to the public via official channels.

The project was realised through volunteer work with the technical support of Spacemanic and the Society for Out-of-Frame Education. It was funded via a crowdfunding campaign and donations from individuals and companies. CroCube is supported by professional associations and renowned scientists in Croatia and worldwide.