AEROSP 740 – Advanced CubeSat Design – W25
During the Winter 2025 semester, we will be teaching one class in the CubeSat Flight Lab (CFL), AEROSP 740 – Advanced CubeSat Lab. Note, we are still using “experimental” course numbering (495 and 740), so, if enrolling, be sure to sign up for the correct 740 section.
Logistics:
Instructor: James Cutler
Email: [email protected]
Time: TBD
Place: TBD
Prerequisites:
Prior CFL class: AEROSP 495 – CubeSat Flight Lab, AEROSP 740 Advanced CubeSat Flight Lab; or extensive experience with hands on systems engineering, hardware, and software. Recommended space system courses such as SPACE 310 or AEROSP 483. All majors encouraged.
Objectives:
In this class, students will operate, launch, test, build, and design an industry standard, prototype spacecraft, called a CubeSat. Students will operate ground communication stations to communicate with space missions, schedule commands, task the satellites, and analyze space-based data. The course includes an overview of best-practices in testing to characterize satellite performance and survivability in the space environment (vacuum, vibration, functional). Design methodologies and program management techniques will be core aspects of the class where students learn to develop mission goals, derive requirements, conceive of architectures, create concept of operations, and simulate system performance. This course will develop the system engineering skills of students as they create and document complex space systems and work in intense team environments.
Class effort will primarily focus on open-ended, real-world project development. Several course lectures will be provided on solar power generation and attitude determination systems. During this semester, W25, class projects will include:
- StratoSats: long duration, high altitude stratospheric flight vehicle to test novel photovoltaics.
- MCubed-X: a 3U cubesat whose primary payloads are a novel magnetometer and organic photovoltaics.
- STARI: two 6U cubesats to demonstrate formation flying and interferometer payloads.