From Ground Up: Incorporating a Low-Cost Ground Station to Master Satellite Subsystems Design Through Data Harvesting
Uxía García-Luis, P. Fernández, Manuel Diz-Folgar, Alfredo Ivorra-Sineiro, Alejandro Camanzo-Mariño, Brais Fortes-Martinez, Carlos Ulloa, Marcos Arias, Pedro Orgeira-Crespo · 2024
In space engineering education, bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application presents a significant challenge, often hindered by the high costs associated with satellite materials, manufacturing, system verification and access to space. This paper discusses an innovative approach to overcoming these challenges incorporating a low-cost ground station to the campus infrastructure, and its integration into the global SatNOGS network, aimed to provide students a unique opportunity to engage with the global scientific community. This initiative not only exposes engineering students to practical space instrumentation but also deepens their understanding of satellite operation fundamentals. The paper prioritizes identifying specific target groups and case-studies, outlining the benefits, and proposing methods to measure the impact of this hands-on approach to engineering education. Drawing on the University of Vigo’s achievements in successfully launching and operating four CubeSat missions, this initiative offers students a clear, practical application of their theoretical studiesIt points out the value of the "learning by doing" methodology, which allows students to acquire practical skills in satellite systems, a critical aspect for their future professions within the space industry.This work emphasizes the importance of incorporating satellite operations in their educational curriculum, directly addressing a significant gap between universities and the actual engineering workforce. By focusing on the ground segment, this approach introduces students to the foundational aspects of satellite operations, a field with a high demand for skilled professionals. Traditionally, these positions require extensive on-the-job training by their employers to become fully proficient; his initiative aims to reduce that learning curve by equipping students with operational knowledge and skills that are immediately applicable. The importance of the postlaunch phase is also highlighted: how important effective planning, execution of operations and problem solving at remote sites are to the successful completion of the mission.