Laying the Foundations

Building a Strong Foundation for CubeSat Learning Kits

Napoleon once said, “Dress me slowly, I’m in a hurry.” This timeless advice underscores the importance of starting any project with a stable foundation. For our project, the first critical step is to answer the question: What do we want to achieve?

Here are the key goals for this project:

1. Multi-level Accessibility: Engage learners from ages 12 to 99, with a primary focus on college engineering students.

2. Plug-and-Play Simplicity: Create a system that’s easy to set up and start using right away.

3. Diverse Learning Modules: Cover topics ranging from basic electronics to the space environment and component qualification.

4. Flight-like Experience: Design hardware that feels as authentic as possible, resembling professional CubeSat systems.

5. Customizability: Provide a platform for creating custom projects tailored to individual or educational needs.

Translating Goals Into a Practical Solution

To meet these objectives, the project points toward developing a CubeSat-based learning kit. CubeSats are miniature satellites that adhere to a standard design specification, making them ideal for educational purposes. Here are some ideas for our learning kit:

• Arduino Compatibility: Ensure the system is compatible with Arduino IDE, enabling plug-and-play functionality.

• Modular Design: Include options for attaching various boards to facilitate multiple learning modules, such as radiation effects on electronics.

• Authenticity: Design hardware that simulates real-world conditions, giving students a “flight-like” experience.

While similar products already exist, building this kit from scratch offers a unique opportunity to innovate and expand learning opportunities for students and educators.

Inspiration From Existing Solutions

Several commercial kits have influenced this idea. Here are some notable examples:

• Pumpkin Space Systems CubeSat Kit

• HexStar Universe CubeSat Kit

• Artemis CubeSat Kit by Frances Zhu

• Robinson Aerospace CubeSat Kit

• CubeSat Shop Training Simulators

These kits demonstrate the potential for educational CubeSats, but our approach aims to add unique value through customization and modular learning opportunities.

What Is a CubeSat?

For those unfamiliar, a CubeSat is a type of small satellite designed to a standard size and weight. It was originally developed by California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) and Stanford University to standardize satellite development. CubeSats are widely used in education, research, and commercial applications due to their simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

To learn more about CubeSats, here are some helpful resources:

• What are SmallSats and CubeSats? (NASA)

• CubeSat Design Specification (Cal Poly)

• CubeSat 101: Basic Concepts and Processes for First-Time Developers (NASA)

Next Steps

The next phase involves turning these goals into measurable requirements, starting to create the first index of topics to discuss, and possibly drafting a block diagram for the kit. I’ll keep posting updates every week!