Spacebox CubeSat: Elevating High Schoolers from Learners to Space Innovators

Abstract

This study describes the SpaceBox CubeSat project, which introduces high school students to the world of satellite technology by guiding them through the full process of building, testing, and deploying a small satellite called a CubeSat. CubeSats are compact, standardized satellites often used in educational and research projects to make space exploration more accessible. In this project, students learn to create a mission computer on a specialized electronic platform (AMD FPGA), gaining hands-on experience with the basics of space technology, such as using sensors, managing power, and communicating with Earth. For testing, the team developed a custom balloon control system that uses a tethered weather balloon to lift the CubeSat to various heights, allowing students to test its functions under controlled conditions. The CubeSat sends data back to a ground station in real-time, where students can monitor its status, navigate, and control it. The project shows that the CubeSat’s mission computer can run efficiently on limited power, lasting up to 7 hours without sunlight, making it suitable for educational missions. Overall, this project not only highlights the CubeSat’s technical abilities but also shows the power of hands-on learning in inspiring future innovators.

Keywords: CubeSat, FPGA, High School STEM Education, Mission Computer, Telemetry, Balloon Control Unit

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/15-12-10

Publication date: December 30th 2024