Open Orbit offers undergraduate students hands-on experience in designing, building, and launching open-source CubeSats. The program utilizes existing satellite technology to provide practical skills in hardware development, mission planning, and data acquisition for Earth observation.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Undergraduate students often lack practical, hands-on experience in designing and manufacturing space hardware, limiting their exposure to real-world aerospace engineering challenges. This gap in experiential learning hinders the development of critical skills necessary for future careers in the space industry.
Solution
Open Orbit provides undergraduate students with a structured program for designing, building, and launching open-source CubeSats. The initiative leverages existing open-source satellite technology to offer practical experience in hardware development, mission planning, and data acquisition. Students gain direct involvement in the end-to-end lifecycle of a space mission, from initial concept and CAD modeling to assembly, testing, and potential in-orbit operations. This hands-on approach aims to democratize access to space technology education and foster innovation within the student community.
Target Audience
The primary audience is undergraduate students pursuing degrees in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, and related fields who seek practical experience in satellite development.
Features
- CubeSat design and manufacturing utilizing open-source hardware principles.
- Development of a 2U form factor CubeSat.
- Focus on livestreaming Earth observation data from orbit.
- Integration of existing open-source satellite technology frameworks.
- Hands-on project management and team collaboration in a simulated aerospace environment.
- Ground infrastructure development for mission control and data reception.