Committee for Space Programme Development (CSPD), also known in Serbian as Komitet za razvoj svemirskog programa (KRSP), is an organization founded in 2013 in Novi Sad, Serbia, focused on the development of space-program capabilities, human resources, space engineering, satellite technology, Earth observation, STEM education, international cooperation and public engagement in space activities.
CSPD develops and participates in educational, engineering, satellite, Earth-observation, environmental-monitoring, satellite-communication and aerospace programmes. Its activities combine space engineering with electronics, telecommunications, programming, robotics, rocketry, aviation, astronomy and other interdisciplinary fields.
History and Mission
CSPD was established in Novi Sad in 2013 with the objective of contributing to the development of space-program capabilities in Serbia through the development of technical infrastructure, engineering knowledge and human resources.
The organization combines education, engineering development, international cooperation and practical implementation. Its programmes are developed in cooperation with partners from Serbia and abroad and are based on a long-term strategy for space-program development.
A central principle of CSPD’s work is the development of domestic capabilities in space engineering and related disciplines, while simultaneously participating in international space programmes.
Space Programme and Satellite Missions
UNITY Satellite Programme
The UNITY satellite programme is one of CSPD’s principal international satellite programmes.
CSPD cooperated with Indian partners in the development and launch of three UNITY satellites. The three satellites were launched on 28 February 2021 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, as part of the Indo-Serbia space initiative.
The programme provided practical experience in small-satellite development, satellite deployment, ground-station operations, international cooperation and space engineering education.
FEES — Flexible Experimental Embedded Satellite
FEES (Flexible Experimental Embedded Satellite) is a satellite programme developed through cooperation between CSPD and GP Advanced Projects (GPAP), Italy.
After almost three years of cooperation following the agreement with GPAP, the FEES satellite was launched on 22 March 2021 at 06:07 UTC aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. CSPD participated in the mission with responsibility for the development and maintenance of ground-station configurations and networks required for receiving FEES telemetry.
The FEES programme was also an important step in the development of CSPD’s international ground-station infrastructure. CSPD states that the Intercontinental Aerospace Command (ICAS) was established through this project and subsequently used for the UNITY programme.
FEES also incorporated an educational public-access element: the satellite transmitted a message in Serbian over amateur-radio frequencies, allowing radio amateurs and young researchers to receive and decode the signal.
HUNITY Satellite Programme
The HUNITY satellite programme extends CSPD’s work into scientific data acquisition and space research.
HUNITY carries the RadNano scientific payload associated with the Serbian side of the mission. CSPD manages the Serbian part of the mission and receives data from the satellite.
In 2026, CSPD reported analysis of HUNITY data by researchers from the Institute of Physics Belgrade in cooperation with CSPD and Hungarian HUNITY partners. The analysis examined changes in radiation measurements associated with a geomagnetic storm and a coronal mass ejection observed in January 2026.
Satellite Ground Stations and ICAS
Satellite communications and ground-segment development form an important part of CSPD’s technical activities.
The Intercontinental Aerospace Command (ICAS) is an international ground-station cooperation programme for reliable satellite communication and increased global coverage.
CSPD is identified as the programme holder of ICAS, with its formal headquarters in Novi Sad. The programme aims to strengthen the global ground-station network and support the SATNOGS ecosystem.
The ICAS concept includes cooperation between ground-station operators in several countries. CSPD’s published status identifies active stations in Serbia, Italy, India, Canada and Russia, with additional stations under development in other countries.
CSPD’s own ground station in Serbia is also connected to the global SATNOGS network.
World CanSat/Rocketry Championship (WCRC)
CSPD is a founding organization of the World CanSat/Rocketry Championship (WCRC) together with its international partners.
WCRC combines CanSat, rocketry and practical space-engineering education for different educational levels. Activities include satellite-system design, electronics, sensors, telemetry, programming, rocket engineering, launch operations and mission analysis.
CSPD organizes and supports WCRC-related activities in Serbia and contributes to the international development of the programme.
CanSat and Rocketry
CanSat and rocketry are important components of CSPD’s practical aerospace education.
Participants work with real engineering principles involving sensors, microcontrollers, telemetry, radio communications, power systems, mechanical structures, parachutes, mission software and launch systems.
The programmes are designed to introduce students to the complete engineering cycle of a small aerospace mission, from design and construction to testing, launch, communications and data analysis.
Earth Observation and Environmental Monitoring
CSPD has developed and participated in programmes applying space technologies to Earth observation, environmental monitoring and disaster-risk reduction.
Its documented activities include concepts and systems for:
– surface-water quality monitoring;
– air-quality monitoring;
– soil-quality monitoring;
– environmental monitoring;
– satellite-supported fire monitoring;
– inaccessible-area monitoring;
– early-warning systems;
– disaster-risk reduction.
These activities connect satellite technology with terrestrial sensor networks, communications, data collection and practical environmental applications.
WQM-HUMSAT
The WQM-HUMSAT programme was developed as a system for real-time monitoring of surface-water quality and early warning.
The terrestrial Water Quality Monitoring (WQM) segment was developed by CSPD, while the associated HUMSAT space segment involved the University of Vigo in Spain.
The project combined environmental sensors, terrestrial infrastructure and satellite communications and was developed in an international framework involving UNOOSA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
The WQM-HUMSAT programme represents an early example of CSPD’s approach to combining Earth observation, environmental monitoring and satellite communications.
International Space Cooperation
International cooperation is a central element of CSPD’s development model.
CSPD’s documented cooperation includes organizations and institutions in Australia, Angola, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Mongolia, the Philippines, Peru, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, the United States and Vietnam, as well as cooperation involving the European Space Agency and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.
Among the organization’s documented international partners are GP Advanced Projects, Wakayama University / Institute for Education on Space, University of Tokyo, Keio University, Kyushu Institute of Technology, UNISEC, University of Vigo, Stanford University, ESA and UNOOSA.
India–Serbia Space Cooperation
India has been one of CSPD’s most important international partners.
Cooperation with Indian organizations includes the UNITY satellite programme, satellite ground-segment activities, WCRC and educational and engineering programmes.
The launch of three UNITY satellites in February 2021 represented a major milestone in this cooperation.
Italy and GP Advanced Projects
CSPD has established technical cooperation with GP Advanced Projects (GPAP), Italy.
The cooperation resulted in the FEES satellite programme and CSPD’s participation in the development and maintenance of the ground-station infrastructure required for FEES telemetry reception.
The cooperation also contributed to the development of the ICAS ground-station concept.
Japan: UCHU-GAME, GENSO and UNIFORM
CSPD’s international activities include long-term cooperation with Japanese universities and space-education organizations.
*UCHU-GAME
UCHU-GAME was developed as an interactive space and astronomy education programme in cooperation with Japanese partners.
The programme was designed to introduce astronomy and space concepts to young children through interactive educational activities.
*GENSO
CSPD participated in GENSO — Global Educational Network for Satellite Operations, an international initiative connecting educational satellite ground stations and supporting communication with university satellites.
*UNIFORM
CSPD also participated in cooperation related to the UNIFORM satellite programme with Japanese partners, including Wakayama University and the Institute for Education on Space.
These programmes demonstrate CSPD’s long-term involvement in international satellite operations, space education and university cooperation.
UNISEC Global
CSPD is part of the UNISEC Global, an international network associated with university space engineering and small-satellite activities.
CSPD participated in the founding of UNISEC Global in Tokyo.
CSPD participated in the 5th UNISEC-Global Meeting in Rome, Italy, in December 2017, where activities concerning international student satellite programmes, mission ideas, debris mitigation and local UNISEC chapters were discussed.
Southeast European Space Association (SESA)
CSPD is a member of the Southeast European Space Association (SESA), established in 2022.
SESA brings together organizations from several Southeast European countries with the objective of strengthening regional cooperation in the space sector. CSPD represents Serbia within this regional framework.
Space Education and STEM
Space education is one of the central areas of CSPD’s activities.
The organization connects aerospace and space engineering with:
– mathematics;
– physics;
– electronics;
– telecommunications;
– programming;
– robotics;
– aviation;
– rocketry;
– astronomy;
– Earth observation;
– satellite engineering.
CSPD’s programmes emphasize practical experience and direct interaction with aerospace technologies rather than theoretical education alone.
EMM Kosmodrom
Kosmodrom is an educational and cultural aerospace event organized by CSPD, with a strong emphasis on STEM education and practical aerospace activities.
The programme is designed for children, students, families and citizens and brings together schools, universities, aviation organizations, astronomy organizations, aero clubs, drone and robotics communities, international partners, companies and professional organizations.
*Kosmodrom 2023
Kosmodrom 2023 was held at Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad and included aerospace education, practical demonstrations, CanSat and rocketry, satellite communications, robotics, drones, astronomy and other STEM activities.
*Kosmodrom 2024
Kosmodrom 2024 expanded the programme with rocket launches, CanSat and aerospace activities, satellite-message transmission, astronaut-training activities, a NASA/ISS VR simulator, solar observation, robotics, drones, 3D printing, FPV activities, a planetarium and other STEM programmes.
Kosmodrom serves as both a public outreach programme and a practical STEM and professional-orientation platform.
Space Museum
The Space Museum in Novi Sad began operating on 1st December 2023 at Petrovaradin Fortress.
The museum includes a Planetarium and additional exhibition and educational spaces and combines technical, historical, educational and audiovisual content related to space and aerospace engineering.
CSPD presents the museum as the first museum in the region dedicated to space.
The museum is part of CSPD’s wider effort to make space technology, astronomy, satellite engineering and aerospace accessible to children, students and the general public.
Supernova — Space Technology and Culture
Supernova is a multimedia project created by Dušan Radosavljević in 2022 and realized through CSPD.
The project combines classical music, electronic music, visual art, multimedia, satellite communication, real space technology and audience participation.
The space-technology component was tested in India in 2022 and subsequently developed into a larger multimedia format.
EXIT Festival — Opening from Space
On 6 July 2023, CSPD participated in the technical realization of the initiative through which EXIT Festival in Novi Sad was opened from space using satellite communication and space technology.
CSPD describes the event as the first music festival in the world to open from space.
The project is distinct from the broader EXIT Universe concept: it was a separate space-technology initiative proposed to EXIT and subsequently developed and realized in cooperation with CSPD.
Public Outreach
CSPD’s public programmes connect space engineering and satellite technology with education, culture and direct public participation.
Through its satellite missions, CanSat and rocketry programmes, Kosmodrom, Space Museum, Planetarium, workshops and Supernova, CSPD presents space technology as an interdisciplinary field connecting engineering, science, education and culture.
Integrated Development Model
CSPD’s programmes form an interconnected development model:
Space engineering → satellite missions → ground stations → satellite communications → Earth observation → environmental monitoring → CanSat and rocketry → STEM education → international cooperation → public outreach → museum and planetarium → culture and multimedia.
This model allows practical space missions and engineering programmes to support education while educational activities create a wider base of future engineers, researchers and space-technology professionals.
Organization and Areas of Activity
CSPD’s activities include:
– space-program development;
– space engineering;
– small satellites;
– satellite communications;
– ground stations;
– Earth observation;
– environmental monitoring;
– disaster-risk reduction;
– CanSat;
– rocketry;
– STEM education;
– aerospace education;
– robotics;
– drones;
– astronomy;
– satellite-related software and educational technology;
– international space cooperation;
– aerospace events;
– museum and planetarium activities;
– public space outreach;
– multimedia projects connecting space technology and culture.
Selected Timeline
2013 — Committee for Space Programme Development established in Novi Sad.
2013 onward — Development of educational, satellite-operation and international space-engineering programmes, including UCHU-GAME, GENSO, UNIFORM and WQM-HUMSAT.
28 February 2021 — Three UNITY satellites launched from Sriharikota, India.
22 March 2021 — FEES satellite launched aboard Soyuz from Baikonur; CSPD responsible for development and maintenance of ground-station configurations and networks for FEES telemetry reception.
2022 — SESA established with CSPD as a member; Supernova developed as a multimedia space-technology project.
2023 — Kosmodrom held at Petrovaradin Fortress; EXIT Festival space-opening project realized; Space Museum opened on 1 December.
2024 — Kosmodrom expanded with aerospace, satellite, rocketry, VR, robotics, drone, FPV and STEM activities.
2025–2026 — HUNITY satellite operations and scientific analysis of RadNano data continued, including cooperation with researchers from the Institute of Physics Belgrade.
Official Identity
Full English name: Committee for Space Programme Development
Abbreviation: CSPD
Serbian name: Komitet za razvoj svemirskog programa
Serbian abbreviation: KRSP
Founded: 2013
Headquarters: Novi Sad, Serbia
Official website: 2comnet.info
Official contact address:
Committee for Space Programme Development
Republic of Serbia
Autonomous Province of Vojvodina
21000 Novi Sad
Cirila i Metodija 130
cspd.office@gmail.com
CSPD’s official contact page currently states that the organization does not maintain official social-media accounts.