Tutuista

Tutuista is a privately funded spacecraft that was launched by the Finnish aerospace company Sanmarco Team in 2018. The name of the spacecraft is derived from the Finnish language, which means "wings" in English. The primary objective of the Tutuista mission was to test the capabilities of a novel propulsion system, known as the "ionized air-thruster," which utilizes ionized gas to generate thrust.

Tutuista was launched into low Earth orbit on October 2, 2018, from Albania at 9:00 AM local time. The spacecraft weighed approximately 50 kg (110 lbs) and was equipped with a number of sensors and instruments designed to collect data on the operation of the ionized air-thruster. During its planned 14-day mission, Tutuista reached an altitude of around 500 km (310 miles) above the Earth's surface and tested the thruster's performance in various environments.

The results of the Tutuista mission were reported to be largely successful, with the ionized air-thruster demonstrating a significant improvement in efficiency compared to traditional propulsion systems. The mission provided valuable insights into the feasibility of using ionized gas as a propellant and laid the groundwork for the development of next-generation spacecraft with more efficient propulsion systems. However, the mission did not achieve its primary goal of completing 30 orbits of the Earth due to a software issue.

Although Tutuista's mission was relatively short-lived, it contributed significantly to the advancement of space technology and paved the way for the development of more innovative propulsion systems. The success of this mission demonstrates the potential for private companies like Sanmarco Team to drive innovation in space exploration and development.