Can you tell us about your studies and professional beginnings?
I graduated from FEEC in 2015. In my master's studies I was interested in power electronics and my master's thesis was related to aviation, because aviation and space have been my passions since childhood. Specifically, the thesis was about electric propulsion for gliders, for real flying gliders. That was the culmination of my studies. I was still flirting with electronic devices and actuators, which more or less led me to drones and remote sensing. Subsequently, I started to look into the implementation of drone technology into practice.
Was your studies also linked to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at BUT (FME), which focuses on aeronautics?
No. I came into contact with FME and aerospace only after joining the VZLU AEROSPACE, where I took my first few classes in orbital calculations under the guidance of Professor Daňek. That is how our intensive cooperation started. Together we are part of the National Centre of Competence for Aerospace. At VZLU AEROSPACE we have a mix of graduates from FEEC, FME and Faculty of Information Technology (FIT).
Did your passion for aviation come from a strong family background?
Aviation runs in the family, and even both parents worked in research institutes focused on electrical engineering and armaments. I went to the Secondary School of Electrical Engineering in Kounicova Street in Brno, which was interesting for me because it was purely an electrical engineering school, and from there it led directly to the FEEC. The school had intensive contact with the faculty, so a student in the fourth year already had a real overview of the fields and possibilities of study at FEEC.
What were your first steps after school?
During my studies, I worked in automation, partly at the FEI in Bratislava, where I was on internships. Parallel to finishing my studies, I entered the drone world. Like any standard FEEC student, I had a job before graduation in companies that we worked with in the 4th and 5th year of studies. And in 2019 I joined VZLU AEROSPACE
Has higher education changed since you were at university?
Even back then I saw the connection with industry and from my perspective, students have practical experience, they are spread across companies. In terms of space, I would say that today's students are perhaps more specifically prepared. Today, we have the first graduates of the Master's degree program in Space Applications, which opened in 2022 at the FEEC. I get the feeling from them that, also based on the lectures and the composition of the courses that we were entering at the birth of the program, they are more prepared for quick employment.
What is the best way to prepare for your future career during your studies?
Quite frankly - if a graduate wants to go into industry, he or she should have practical experience working on projects, collaborating with a company or writing a good thesis with an industry body, as this will move him or her more quickly towards reality. However, if a student wants to stay in an academic environment, I can think of YSpace for example - a student society that does very sophisticated things with the support of industry and the university. So my advice is to either focus more on the university itself and look for opportunities there, get involved in societies, or try for a part-time job in industry.
However, there is a risk associated with employing students in their senior years that they will not finish school and stay in work prematurely. How can we motivate students to graduate successfully?
If a student graduates early, it is a great pity. In our company, we motivate students to finish their degree properly and encourage them to pursue a PhD. Employers should not be short-sighted and should find a way to support students, i.e. prepare the conditions for them to successfully complete their studies. I would like this to sound like an appeal to employers. Completing a degree is not just about getting a piece of paper, but rather about having a comprehensive knowledge.
BUT organizes many interesting events for the public, including BUT Junior, summer schools and clubs for primary school children. However, there is a demonstrable decline in interest in STEM subjects as girls enter secondary school, which is particularly dramatic. Any ideas on how to change this?
I keep saying we need a Czech female astronaut. If we had even just a reserve astronaut, it would be an incentive for girls who are interested in space. Thanks to a project with the DLR (German Aerospace Center), we had the honour of working with an ESA reserve astronaut who used to pilot fighter planes and is now also working in space technology research.
That would certainly be a prime example. It could also serve for teachers, who also often live in the grip of stereotypes and will not even send girls on a field trip to a technical university. Do you observe any changes in terms of secondary schools in terms of preparation for technical studies at university?
I am aware of activities related to technical lyceums. I guess it's the way to go for those who are interested in a good technical foundation and want to go on to college.
How do you think a BUT graduate is perceived in the industry?
If I were to evaluate the quality of BUT students, I think that their level is even higher today than in 2015. I am aware that the demands of studying mathematics and physics can be initially discouraging for many students, but I am definitely against any lowering of requirements. It is precisely the demanding nature that ensures the quality of graduates and their good application in practice.
We try to stimulate children's interest in STEM subjects even in the lower grades of secondary schools. Has VZLU AEROSPACE established any cooperation with secondary schools?
In March, we organise an open day when we are visited by high school students in large numbers. Often we also visit physics classes when a school calls us. We have a set of lectures prepared for that, we send young colleagues who are around 26 years old, so they are about ten years older than the high school students. It's always done in some rational way, it's not our main job.
What has been your experience in getting young people involved in the space industry? Is Brno really special in this respect?
My tactic is to take the label off of space that it's something that's not even really done here, and if it is, you must have 30 years of experience. The path to space was helped by LazarSat - these are high school kids from the region - they came to Houston, won there, then decided they wanted to build a satellite, built it, and shot it into space. Today, Brno is a region where the space business is strongly represented. There is Masaryk University, with which we are doing the QUVIK mission, there are activities of the BUT, BrnoSat is being prepared, the National Centre of Competence for Aeronautics and Space. CubeSats, SmallSats are being built, space-related research is going on. Students can become part of this very quickly, they don't have to wait twenty years. Even high school students can get involved in this activity, which has clear potential. The human foot will soon be on the moon again, humanity will soon be trying to get to another planet. The number of satellites being made in this region is enormous. At the turn of the year, four satellites that were built in Brno flew into space: LASARsat, the Croatian CroCube satellite and the Saturnin-1 and Troll satellites being developed with us. It shows that the cadence is very intense.
Just looking out the window right now, I'll show you eight companies that work in the space industry. We'll also get a good look at FME and FEEC, where the antenna is located, where the satellites operate from. In my opinion, we are at a very high level with space technology in our country. There are companies here that can supply very sophisticated components for large European missions. The Czech Republic has activities that complement the constellation of these huge satellites, the so-called SmallSats, and we can be very competitive in this space. We cannot compete with companies like Airbus, Thales - we can supply them, but we can compete with those companies that are involved in SmallSats, and that is a really big market at the moment.
Returning to the Saturnin mission, how does a company from Central Europe get to SpaceX to put an object in space?
That's what I really enjoy about my job, that we're taking things to this scale. We are able to work with cutting-edge technologies (the most advanced and innovative tools or systems in a particular field that are driving transformation and pushing boundaries, author's note), we are able to work with the biggest companies and the trendiest players. It's a long journey, often taking years, but we have managed to build partnerships over time. We have understood the whole process - from the initial idea sketched on paper to the final stage of successfully operating a facility in space.
Today we have satellites in space that are about 20 kg, but the same pattern is repeated for satellites that weigh 250 kg. The Czech Republic started investing in space research a long time ago. VZLU AEROSPACE has already sent VZLUSAT-1 into space in 2017 to try it out, then VZLUSAT-2, and now Saturnin-1 is in orbit. The fact that we were able to qualify a satellite for flight and get it on a SpaceX rocket was because we've been down that road before and again, we added some new things to it. It's all incremental steps. You only learn a space mission by doing it and constantly adding more and more new technology.
Saturnin-1 is a research and development project under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence. I can't tell you more here. Mission VZLUGEM is aimed at reducing space debris. It is a dual-use technology (military and civilian), specifically for orbit maintenance and change capabilities. The satellite will have a system that can generate thrust and change the satellite's position in orbit.
There is a fairly strong student chapter of YSpace at FEC with a lot of potential. How do you approach their activities from the position of an industrial partner?
We actively try to help them, both by mentoring them and by providing our testing facilities. Some members of the association work for us and we create flexible conditions for them to operate in both worlds. We offer them an open space for consultation and support them materially. The space sector is now an attractive topic and YSpace excels in it. The space sector in general brings together many talented people - from management to promotion to technical experts with innovative ideas. This sector has managed to attract extremely capable people. YSpace has great concepts that they are submitting to the European Space Agency, getting support and moving forward. They are mastering the technical challenges and are able to gather other talents around them - this young generation has the potential to succeed on a global scale. It is also interesting that people who left to work abroad ten years ago are now returning to the country and getting involved in these activities.
This is certainly a great benefit for the space industry in the Czech Republic. We are proud that as BUT we are part of the space industry. How do you perceive BUT today, from your position as a representative of the corporate sector?
I have always perceived BUT positively, after all it is my alma mater! I appreciate the fact that the university is currently paying a lot of attention to its presentation and marketing. In today's competitive environment, when various faculties and universities compete for high school graduates, this approach is essential. In my opinion, a major turning point came when university merch was introduced. I see this move as very progressive and overall, there has been a huge improvement in the branding of the BUT. I see similar activities at Masaryk University and I am pleased that universities are making themselves visible in this way - it contributes significantly to the prestige of the whole city.
It seems that everyone would like to live in Brno, right?
I came to Brno in 2005 and, to be honest, at that time it seemed like a completely ordinary city. But in the last 20 years, there has been a lot of progress here. In 2015, I went to Bratislava for a while, but eventually I came back. There are great facilities for a young person here today, and if you're middle class, you can afford a really good standard of living. Brno has simply changed beyond recognition.
What professional challenges are you facing in the near future?
In these months we are starting the implementation phase of the ambitious AMBIC and QUVIK projects. For students who are considering studying for a Master's degree in Space Application, this means a great opportunity - in just two or three years they can become part of the team that will build the two largest Czech satellites we are currently working on. These satellites will have a mass of 150 kg and will be equipped with the most advanced technologies that can be found in our region. Our team is generationally diverse with colleagues ranging in age from 25-63, so we offer a unique environment where young people can learn from experienced professionals while bringing new ideas to the table.
Author: Zdeňka Koubová
Graduate Juraj Dudáš on the Czech way to the stars
In the last issue of the magazine Události focused on space, we could not miss an interview with Juraj Dudáš, a graduate of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication (FEEC), who is now the Director of the Space Division at VZLU AEROSPACE (Research and Testing Aerospace Institute). We met in the Brno office of Babak Office, from where some of the most important Czech space projects are managed.Can you tell us about your studies and professional beginnings?
I graduated from FEEC in 2015. In my master's studies I was interested in power electronics and my master's thesis was related to aviation, because aviation and space have been my passions since childhood. Specifically, the thesis was about electric propulsion for gliders, for real flying gliders. That was the culmination of my studies. I was still flirting with electronic devices and actuators, which more or less led me to drones and remote sensing. Subsequently, I started to look into the implementation of drone technology into practice.
Was your studies also linked to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at BUT (FME), which focuses on aeronautics?
No. I came into contact with FME and aerospace only after joining the VZLU AEROSPACE, where I took my first few classes in orbital calculations under the guidance of Professor Daňek. That is how our intensive cooperation started. Together we are part of the National Centre of Competence for Aerospace. At VZLU AEROSPACE we have a mix of graduates from FEEC, FME and Faculty of Information Technology (FIT).
Did your passion for aviation come from a strong family background?
Aviation runs in the family, and even both parents worked in research institutes focused on electrical engineering and armaments. I went to the Secondary School of Electrical Engineering in Kounicova Street in Brno, which was interesting for me because it was purely an electrical engineering school, and from there it led directly to the FEEC. The school had intensive contact with the faculty, so a student in the fourth year already had a real overview of the fields and possibilities of study at FEEC.
What were your first steps after school?
During my studies, I worked in automation, partly at the FEI in Bratislava, where I was on internships. Parallel to finishing my studies, I entered the drone world. Like any standard FEEC student, I had a job before graduation in companies that we worked with in the 4th and 5th year of studies. And in 2019 I joined VZLU AEROSPACE
Has higher education changed since you were at university?
Even back then I saw the connection with industry and from my perspective, students have practical experience, they are spread across companies. In terms of space, I would say that today's students are perhaps more specifically prepared. Today, we have the first graduates of the Master's degree program in Space Applications, which opened in 2022 at the FEEC. I get the feeling from them that, also based on the lectures and the composition of the courses that we were entering at the birth of the program, they are more prepared for quick employment.
What is the best way to prepare for your future career during your studies?
Quite frankly - if a graduate wants to go into industry, he or she should have practical experience working on projects, collaborating with a company or writing a good thesis with an industry body, as this will move him or her more quickly towards reality. However, if a student wants to stay in an academic environment, I can think of YSpace for example - a student society that does very sophisticated things with the support of industry and the university. So my advice is to either focus more on the university itself and look for opportunities there, get involved in societies, or try for a part-time job in industry.
However, there is a risk associated with employing students in their senior years that they will not finish school and stay in work prematurely. How can we motivate students to graduate successfully?
If a student graduates early, it is a great pity. In our company, we motivate students to finish their degree properly and encourage them to pursue a PhD. Employers should not be short-sighted and should find a way to support students, i.e. prepare the conditions for them to successfully complete their studies. I would like this to sound like an appeal to employers. Completing a degree is not just about getting a piece of paper, but rather about having a comprehensive knowledge.
BUT organizes many interesting events for the public, including BUT Junior, summer schools and clubs for primary school children. However, there is a demonstrable decline in interest in STEM subjects as girls enter secondary school, which is particularly dramatic. Any ideas on how to change this?
I keep saying we need a Czech female astronaut. If we had even just a reserve astronaut, it would be an incentive for girls who are interested in space. Thanks to a project with the DLR (German Aerospace Center), we had the honour of working with an ESA reserve astronaut who used to pilot fighter planes and is now also working in space technology research.
That would certainly be a prime example. It could also serve for teachers, who also often live in the grip of stereotypes and will not even send girls on a field trip to a technical university. Do you observe any changes in terms of secondary schools in terms of preparation for technical studies at university?
I am aware of activities related to technical lyceums. I guess it's the way to go for those who are interested in a good technical foundation and want to go on to college.
How do you think a BUT graduate is perceived in the industry?
If I were to evaluate the quality of BUT students, I think that their level is even higher today than in 2015. I am aware that the demands of studying mathematics and physics can be initially discouraging for many students, but I am definitely against any lowering of requirements. It is precisely the demanding nature that ensures the quality of graduates and their good application in practice.
We try to stimulate children's interest in STEM subjects even in the lower grades of secondary schools. Has VZLU AEROSPACE established any cooperation with secondary schools?
In March, we organise an open day when we are visited by high school students in large numbers. Often we also visit physics classes when a school calls us. We have a set of lectures prepared for that, we send young colleagues who are around 26 years old, so they are about ten years older than the high school students. It's always done in some rational way, it's not our main job.
What has been your experience in getting young people involved in the space industry? Is Brno really special in this respect?
My tactic is to take the label off of space that it's something that's not even really done here, and if it is, you must have 30 years of experience. The path to space was helped by LazarSat - these are high school kids from the region - they came to Houston, won there, then decided they wanted to build a satellite, built it, and shot it into space. Today, Brno is a region where the space business is strongly represented. There is Masaryk University, with which we are doing the QUVIK mission, there are activities of the BUT, BrnoSat is being prepared, the National Centre of Competence for Aeronautics and Space. CubeSats, SmallSats are being built, space-related research is going on. Students can become part of this very quickly, they don't have to wait twenty years. Even high school students can get involved in this activity, which has clear potential. The human foot will soon be on the moon again, humanity will soon be trying to get to another planet. The number of satellites being made in this region is enormous. At the turn of the year, four satellites that were built in Brno flew into space: LASARsat, the Croatian CroCube satellite and the Saturnin-1 and Troll satellites being developed with us. It shows that the cadence is very intense.
Just looking out the window right now, I'll show you eight companies that work in the space industry. We'll also get a good look at FME and FEEC, where the antenna is located, where the satellites operate from. In my opinion, we are at a very high level with space technology in our country. There are companies here that can supply very sophisticated components for large European missions. The Czech Republic has activities that complement the constellation of these huge satellites, the so-called SmallSats, and we can be very competitive in this space. We cannot compete with companies like Airbus, Thales - we can supply them, but we can compete with those companies that are involved in SmallSats, and that is a really big market at the moment.
Returning to the Saturnin mission, how does a company from Central Europe get to SpaceX to put an object in space?
That's what I really enjoy about my job, that we're taking things to this scale. We are able to work with cutting-edge technologies (the most advanced and innovative tools or systems in a particular field that are driving transformation and pushing boundaries, author's note), we are able to work with the biggest companies and the trendiest players. It's a long journey, often taking years, but we have managed to build partnerships over time. We have understood the whole process - from the initial idea sketched on paper to the final stage of successfully operating a facility in space.
Today we have satellites in space that are about 20 kg, but the same pattern is repeated for satellites that weigh 250 kg. The Czech Republic started investing in space research a long time ago. VZLU AEROSPACE has already sent VZLUSAT-1 into space in 2017 to try it out, then VZLUSAT-2, and now Saturnin-1 is in orbit. The fact that we were able to qualify a satellite for flight and get it on a SpaceX rocket was because we've been down that road before and again, we added some new things to it. It's all incremental steps. You only learn a space mission by doing it and constantly adding more and more new technology.
Saturnin-1 is a research and development project under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence. I can't tell you more here. Mission VZLUGEM is aimed at reducing space debris. It is a dual-use technology (military and civilian), specifically for orbit maintenance and change capabilities. The satellite will have a system that can generate thrust and change the satellite's position in orbit.
There is a fairly strong student chapter of YSpace at FEC with a lot of potential. How do you approach their activities from the position of an industrial partner?
We actively try to help them, both by mentoring them and by providing our testing facilities. Some members of the association work for us and we create flexible conditions for them to operate in both worlds. We offer them an open space for consultation and support them materially. The space sector is now an attractive topic and YSpace excels in it. The space sector in general brings together many talented people - from management to promotion to technical experts with innovative ideas. This sector has managed to attract extremely capable people. YSpace has great concepts that they are submitting to the European Space Agency, getting support and moving forward. They are mastering the technical challenges and are able to gather other talents around them - this young generation has the potential to succeed on a global scale. It is also interesting that people who left to work abroad ten years ago are now returning to the country and getting involved in these activities.
This is certainly a great benefit for the space industry in the Czech Republic. We are proud that as BUT we are part of the space industry. How do you perceive BUT today, from your position as a representative of the corporate sector?
I have always perceived BUT positively, after all it is my alma mater! I appreciate the fact that the university is currently paying a lot of attention to its presentation and marketing. In today's competitive environment, when various faculties and universities compete for high school graduates, this approach is essential. In my opinion, a major turning point came when university merch was introduced. I see this move as very progressive and overall, there has been a huge improvement in the branding of the BUT. I see similar activities at Masaryk University and I am pleased that universities are making themselves visible in this way - it contributes significantly to the prestige of the whole city.
It seems that everyone would like to live in Brno, right?
I came to Brno in 2005 and, to be honest, at that time it seemed like a completely ordinary city. But in the last 20 years, there has been a lot of progress here. In 2015, I went to Bratislava for a while, but eventually I came back. There are great facilities for a young person here today, and if you're middle class, you can afford a really good standard of living. Brno has simply changed beyond recognition.
What professional challenges are you facing in the near future?
In these months we are starting the implementation phase of the ambitious AMBIC and QUVIK projects. For students who are considering studying for a Master's degree in Space Application, this means a great opportunity - in just two or three years they can become part of the team that will build the two largest Czech satellites we are currently working on. These satellites will have a mass of 150 kg and will be equipped with the most advanced technologies that can be found in our region. Our team is generationally diverse with colleagues ranging in age from 25-63, so we offer a unique environment where young people can learn from experienced professionals while bringing new ideas to the table.
Author: Zdeňka Koubová
| Responsible person | Ing. Zdeňka Koubová |
|---|---|
| Date of publication |