About us

Established in 2011, it is historically the 1^st university space center in France. The Space Center of the University of Montpellier (CSUM) is the leading center in France.

Our history

In 2006, the French National Center for Space Studies (CNES) launched the EXPRESSO call for projects (EXperiments and Student Projects in the field of Orbital Systems and Balloons).

Laurent DUSSEAU, a professor at the University of Montpellier and a researcher with the RADIAC group at the Institute of Electronics and Systems (UMR 5214), responded to this call for proposals by submitting the ROBUSTA project (Radiations on Bipolar Using Student Satellite Application), a nanosatellite conforming to the CubeSat standard (1 kg, cubic shape, standardized interfaces facilitating launch) with a payload designed to study the effect of radiation on commercial electronic components using bipolar technology.

CNES selected the project, thereby laying the groundwork for the first University Space Center: the CSUM.

The entire satellite must be designed and manufactured within the university; no off-the-shelf components may be used.

Starting from scratch, six years of development led to the launch of ROBUSTA-1A, the first French CubeSat, launched on February 13, 2012, from the Guiana Space Center aboard the inaugural flight of the European Vega launch vehicle.❞

OUR STRENGTHS

• Technology designed at CSUM, made in France;
• University of Montpellier expertise in the field of radiation;
• 20 years experience in the development of nanosatellites ;
• 20 engineers work full-time on our nanosatellites (CSUM is the leading center in terms of human resources);
• High-level scientific activity;
• Active network where industrial players, SMEs and academics meet;
• Heavily involved in the issue of space debris and the sustainable use of space;
• Proactive in the definition of best practice related to LOS (Law on Space Operations);
• Dedicated building with state-of-the-art equipment.

NO. 1 center BY NUMBER OF SATELLITES LAUNCHED

In terms of the number of nanosatellites launched, CSUM ranks first, with 10 satellite platforms launched to date:

• 2024: Launch of ROBUSTA-3A, CSUM’s first 3-unit nanosatellite, on the maiden flight of Ariane 6, followed by GAINDESAT-1A and DJIBOUTI-1B on SpaceX’s Falcon 9;

• 2023: Launch of ROBUSTA-1E ENSO and DJIBOUTI-1A on SpaceX’s Falcon 9;

• 2022: Launch of ROBUSTA-1D CELESTA and ROBUSTA-1F MTCUBE-2 on the European VEGA-C launch vehicle from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, France;

• 2019: Launch of ROBUSTA-1C on a Soyuz (Russian launcher) from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russian Federation;

• 2017: Launch of ROBUSTA-1B on a PSLV (Indian launcher) from the Satish Dhawan Spaceport in India;

• 2012: Launch of ROBUSTA-1A on a VEGA rocket from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, France.

The CSUM Amateur Radio Club

Since 2017, CSUM has also had an amateur radio club: F4KJX.

The club operates from CSUM, but also on the go. Our club is very active and has participated in several radio contests, such as the CQWPX 2025 & 2026 and the YO DX Contest 2025.

In 2027, our amateur radio operators will compete in the REF HF Phonie 2027 and the CQWPX 2027.

F4KJX has 10 amateur radio operators who hold amateur radio licenses: