Digital Commons Network^™

Using A Software-Defined Radio Ground Station For A Small Satellite Mission, Simon Gläsner, Victoria Koßack, Mario-Rafael Ionian, Enrico Stoll, Tom Baumann

Small Satellite Conference

In January 2025, InnoCube, a 3U CubeSat was launched with the Transporter-12 mission, becoming the 31st academic satellite of TU Berlin. The technology demonstration mission is the first one at TU Berlin which uses software-defined radio to operate the satellite in the amateur UHF band. The ground station is based on software-defined radio, which has been a vital part of the development of the communication system of InnoCube. Integration into the ground segment is a logical step in the test-as-you-fly philosophy of the mission. The ground segment consists of a SDR which is paired to a power amplifier which includes …

Laser Crosslink Experiment: Post-Mission Review, Sean Stanko, Dan Frey, Jose Ruvalcaba, Sean Burk, Damian Klaren, Dmitriy Obukhov, Barry Tidmore, Jason Bousquet, David Wayne, Nathan Barnwell, Galen Cauble, Kevin Book, Ben Laxton, Grant Webster, Stan Volchenok, David Sadowski, David Palmer

Small Satellite Conference

The Laser Crosslink Experiment (LaCE) was a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) microsatellite mission that flew between March 4, 2024, and May 18, 2025. LaCE was a two-CubeSat, multi-payload mission developed by Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC). Its major payloads included the CACI Skylight laser communication terminal, the ELROI optical beacon, the Vulcan CSR payload radio, and a newly developed NIWC Tracking, Telemetry, and Command (TT&C) ground operations center. Additionally, LaCE led to the development of the Stratospheric Optical Link Demonstration (SOLD) high-altitude balloon experiment, a companion mission which demonstrated the Skylight terminal in the stratosphere as a risk reduction …

Development And Qualification Of An E Ink Thermal Control System For Tactically Responsive Satellites, Warren Su, Brian Phan, Dustin Holta

Small Satellite Conference

The United States Space Force (USSF)'s objective to establish Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) capabilities — the ability to integrate and launch a satellite within 24 hours — is hindered by the inflexible and time-consuming nature of conventional Thermal Control Systems (TCS). Current industry-standard design approach is a mission-specific process that relies on static materials with fixed thermo-optical properties, such as paints, silver teflon tapes, and multi-layer insulation blankets.

This traditional approach creates a significant bottleneck, as the development of the TCS cannot begin until a customer's payload and orbit details are confirmed. This introduces an incompressible 3-6 month lead time …

Grotifer: A Compact Three-Dimensional Electric Field Instrument Suitable For Small Spacecraft Constellations, Scott Candey, Solène Lejosne, David Auslander, John W. Bonnell, Tatsuyoshi C. Kurumiya, Neli Montalvo, David Pankow, John G. Sample, Van Shourt, Orion V, Van K. Vu, Joshua Zhou

Small Satellite Conference

Existing double probe instruments cannot make equally accurate measurements of all three components of the DC and low frequency E-field. The spin axis booms on spinning spacecraft must be much shorter than spin plane booms and the resulting uncertainty in the spin axis is usually greater than the measured value.

The Role Of Structured Light Sensors In Small Satellite In-Orbit Operations, Linda Ngozwana, Matthew Hand, Aleksander Maslowski, Pete Blacker, Sean Kruszewski, Joshua Longstaffe, Fredric Richardson, Jose Sansano

Small Satellite Conference

The advancement of in-orbit servicing (IOS) technologies is crucial for establishing a circular economy in space, particularly for small satellites. Innovative sensing solutions are demanded to enable the reuse, repair, recycling and de-orbiting of space assets, providing critical support for the close-range navigation, robotic manipulation, and inspection tasks needed in IOS.

Apophis Cratering Experiment Mission Concept, Ethan Kayser, Tyler Presser, Cristyn Merry, Matthew Givens, Kevin Walsh, Viliam Klein

Small Satellite Conference

Apophis is set to become one of the most extensively studied asteroids in history thanks to the detailed observation campaign of OSIRIS-APEX during its 2029 and 2030 extended mission to the near-Earth object, alongside Ramses which is expected to launch in 2028. To supplement those missions, we propose the Apophis Cratering Experiment (ACE), an impactor mission that leverages OSIRIS-APEX or Ramses as a dedicated observer, during and after the collision, to maximize scientific return at a low cost. In addition to providing significant science return, the mission offers a low-cost opportunity to demonstrate novel SmallSat technologies in deep …

An Intelligent Tasking And Processing Chain For Generating Climate Resilience Insights Onboard, Lucy Donnell, Cameron Anderson, Richard Tipper, Hazel Jeffrey, Clare Rumsey, Murray Ireland, Charlotte Crawshaw, Luis Sanchez

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Magnetic Balancing For Microvibration Reduction In Passive Magnetic Bearings For Smallsat Reaction Wheels, Deckers Niel, Baekeland Mante, Cuypers Cedric, Seiler Rene, Vandepitte Dirk, Delabie Tjorven

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

The Move Towards A Modular Spacecraft: Design And Manufacture Of Rf Components Using Additive Manufacturing, Rupesh Chudasama, Benjamin Falkner, Evangelos Mellios, Hossein Eskandari

Small Satellite Conference

Waveguides are critical components for communicating with satellites. Traditional waveguides consist of two parts and are relatively simple in geometry and require multiple steps and fasteners for assembly which add additional weight and the extended delivery times. Our approach is to use Additive Manufacturing (AM) and its design freedoms to produce a lighter, more compact, and printable version of a waveguide. The waveguide will undergo electrical testing to understand the performance of the 3D printed waveguide against the simulation.

Optimizing Ground Station Communications Using Multiple Spacecraft Per Aperture In A Ground Segment As A Service Framework, Stefan Vlad Tudor, Giovanni Zanotti

Small Satellite Conference

The increasing deployment of satellite clusters in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) presents new challenges and opportunities for satellite communications, particularly from a Ground Segment perspective. This paper investigates efficient management of multiple ground contacts, in the Ground Segment as a Service context, by leveraging on Multiple Spacecraft Per Aperture (MSPA) technique to maximize connectivity by sharing ground resources to multiple satellites simultaneously.

MSPA is particularly valuable for handling multiple spacecraft in close proximity, such as during the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) of rideshare missions, all being supported by same ground segment infrastructure. By enabling simultaneous downlinks through a …

Accommodating A Very Large Aperture Antenna On A Small Satellite: The Global L-Band Observatory For Water Cycle Studies (Glows), David Long, Rajat Bindlish, Jeffrey Piepmeier, Mark Bailey

Small Satellite Conference

The NASA Instrument Incubator Program funded the initial development of the Global L-band active/passive Observatory for Water cycle Studies (GLOWS) as a NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) data continuity mission. SMAP, launched in 2015, collected L-band radiometer and radar measurements over land and ocean using a large aperture reflector antenna [1,2]. SMAP observations have demonstrated utility in measuring sea surface salinity and ocean vector winds over the ocean, as well as sea ice thickness. While the SMAP quad-polarization radar failed soon after launch, the SMAP polarimetric radiometer continues to provide high quality radiometer measurements to the present.

To address …

Advancing Real-Time Gnss Data Transmission And Education Through Atak Integration At Cosmiac, Chad Rathbun, Craig Kief, Luis Hernandez, Rachel Hock-Mysliwiec, Michael Starks

Small Satellite Conference

This study showcases COSMIAC at the University of New Mexico (UNM), a leading center for configurable space microsystems and aerospace applications, as it integrates cutting-edge technologies to advance secure and efficient communication systems. Under the AFRL RAPID program, COSMIAC tested a novel architecture combining Azure Orbital Cloud Access (AOCA), the Azure Stack Edge Mini Rugged device, and SpaceX’s Starlink satellite constellation to transmit real-time Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data. The project also leveraged the Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK), a geospatial situational awareness tool, to demonstrate the operational utility of advanced data delivery and visualization systems. The results inform …

Ai-Based Orbit Propagation And Conjunction Screening For Improved Space Situational Awareness, Plamen Petrov, Kevin Vanslette, Charles Stewart, Aisha Yousuf

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Ai-Driven Mission-Critical Software Optimization For Small Satellites: Integrating An Automated Testing Framework, Vishnupriya S. Devarajulu

Small Satellite Conference

Small satellites (SmallSats) have revolutionized our modern digital infrastructure, such as Earth observation, navigation, real-time communications, and deep space exploration, due to their composable design, effectively reduced cost, and accelerated development cycles. However, SmallSat software must function autonomously, often under limited bandwidth, processing power, and computing resources. Pre-launch techniques such as Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) and Unit testing are generally used, but often insufficient to detect errors, timing anomalies, fault propagation, or further telemetry-based degradations. This paper presents a Python-based validation framework influenced by recent testbeds like EIRSAT-1, ITASAT-2, and NOS3, integrating telemetry simulation, synthetic fault injection, resource logging, anomaly …

Attitude Control Of A Floating Satellite (Floatsat) Via Deep Reinforcement Learning, Muhammad Faisal, Dennis Reimer, Sergio Montenegro

Small Satellite Conference

In this work, attitude determination and control (ADC) of a Floating–Satellite(FloatSat)1 through artificial intelligence is proposed. More specifically, Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) will be used to generate an optimal control policy for small satellites. This project evaluated an attitude control policy based on deep reinforcement learning using stable–baseline3 (a library which implements the DRL algorithms in PyTorch).² This Artificially intelligent attitude control was realized for a one-dimensional laboratory-based satellite, which is specifically designed to train the students for satellites and their subsystems.

Autonomous Dual Interchangeable Robotic Arms For In-Space Servicing, Assembly, And Manufacturing, Jonathan Tindall, Michael Daher, Arin Churi, Jake Piccirillo, Anais Mera-Sarnelli, George Serra, Zach Merly, Andrew Dishchuk, Michael Madden, Christian Szczezniak

Small Satellite Conference

The expansion of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations highlights the critical need for In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) to perform novel orbital missions that reduces launch and operating costs and extends mission lifespans. Existing space robotic systems are too expensive, large, and specialized for many ISAM applications in LEO. A small-scale twin robotic arm system that features interchangeable end effectors enhances future ISAM mission capabilities. This robotic arm system leverages smaller, low-cost, arms to perform precise autonomous operations, including satellite repair, repositioning, and recovery. Initial designs and analysis show the arms to be 62% smaller in length and …

Building Europe’S First Isam Facility – From Concept To Delivery In 12 Months, Mark Heelis, Dimitris Xydas, Alex Goodhand, Jeremy Hadall, Elanor Barber, Rupesh Chudasama, Olivia Markham, Michael Curtis-Rouse

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Chantsat-1 Ground Station Planning, Design And Installation - Experiences Gained, Ian Hewitt, Jean French, George Hitt

Small Satellite Conference

Planning, designing, and implementing the ground station for ChantSat-1, Coastal Carolina University’s first small sat mission program, was the first major milestone of the University’s space program. CCU’s ChantSat-1 ground station team presents the experiences gained during the process from inception to completion of the ground station at a liberal arts public University in the southeastern United States with approximately 11,000 students. By sharing both our challenges and successes, our goal is to support others by providing experiences gained in the process.

Chantsat-1: A First-Time University's Experience In Small Satellite Development, George Hitt, Jean French, Juliana Harding, Ian Hewitt, Louis Keiner, Michael Woodle

Small Satellite Conference

ChantSat-1, Coastal Carolina University (CCU) High Altitude Nadir-pointing Satellite-1, is the first smallsat mission envisioned by our primarily undergraduate university. Capacity development to support mission planning over 18 months has integrated a range of interdisciplinary stakeholders while capturing the attention and imagination of students. The mission’s primary payload will be a multispectral camera for remote sensing of South Carolina’s coastal blackwater rivers, estuaries, and adjacent ocean shelf waters. The resulting coastal habitat mosaic supports ecologically important food webs and related economic and cultural engines of regional growth, while being uniquely vulnerable to the combination of natural episodic climate-related events combined …

Development Status Of Flight Model Of Arica-2, Kazumasa Hiroshi, Takanori Sakamoto, Motoko Serino, Keiju Asano, Chisaki Iwanaga, Yoshihiro Takagi, Shion Nojima, Hayato Mabuchi, Shuntaro Morikawa, Rento Okita, Satoshi Moriayama, Teruaki Enoto

Small Satellite Conference

ARICA-2 (AGU Remote Innovative CubeSat Alert system -2) is a 2U CubeSat developed in AGU (Aoyama Gakuin University) in JAPAN. ARICA-2 was selected as the as the JAXA Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4 and is scheduled for launch in Japanese fiscal year 2025. The mission objective of this satellite is to demonstrate the real-time alert system of sudden astronomical phenomena, such as gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Observation of GRBs is challenging because it is difficult to predict location and time of occurrences and its extremely short duration. So, it is necessary to alert immediately for tracing observations of GRBs from the other …

Efficiency Starts With Lifecycle Planning, Management, And Right-Sizing Process, Brian Simms

Small Satellite Conference

When a program starts, there's a tendency for management or leadership to want to get things moving, to get going, to start doing things. It makes a lot of sense to push forward, but only if everybody understands what "doing things" means. A lot of the time, there's a lack of initial process or clarity about where in a specific process we're starting. Sometimes goals, expectations, and processes don’t reach every member of the team.

In a time when efficiency is being leveraged as a weapon to defund existing efforts, all programs are immediately operating at risk. Programs desperately require …

Foresail-1 Prime 3u Science Cubesat, Jaan Praks, Petri Niemelä, Marius Anger, Kiril Cheremetiev, Topi Räty, Minna Palmroth, Emilia Kilpua, Pekka Janhunen, Rami Vainio

Small Satellite Conference

The Foresail-1 Prime is a satellite mission developed by Aalto University in association with the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space (FORESAIL). The mission carries scientific payloads such as the Particle Telescope (PATE), Plasma Brake Experiment (PB), magnetometer MATTI and features fully in-house developed subsystems. This is the fourth satellite, developed by Aalto University, building on heritage of Aalto-1, Aalto-2 and Foresail-1 satellites.

Experimental Validation Of Omnidirectional Interferometry For Space-Based Radio Source Localization, Hisatoshi Kimura, Yosuke Tanabe, Tsukasa Funane, Makoto Ito, Yasuyuki Miyazaki, Satoshi Ikari, Shinichi Nakasuka, Koichi Watanabe

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Hard Disk Drive Reaction Wheel System For Cubesat Architecture, Nidhi Sonwalkar, Venkata Chalamalasetty, Dionna Parina, Parishee Bajaj

Small Satellite Conference

Small satellites have become prevalent within the aerospace industry due to their ability to provide an inexpensive and easily accessible platform for technology demonstrations. Reaction wheels are typically selected for these missions’ attitude and rate control due to their small form factor. Their downside, however, is high cost, upwards of thousands of dollars, which does not align well with the low budget of many small satellites. To address this issue, alternative momentum-actuator technologies can be implemented that, similar to traditional reaction wheels, impart torques for actuation but require much less mass, volume, power, and money. This manuscript discusses the implementation …

Innovative Integration Of A Small And Resetable Hdrm For The Wisdom Project, Guillem Quintana Buil, Valentina Luchetti, Péter Koncsár, Alexandra Széll, Dóra Marossy

Small Satellite Conference

WISDOM is a 6U CubeSat mission demonstrating autonomous collision avoidance in low Earth orbit, addressing the need for in-orbit mitigation in dense satellite environments.

Comprising two mechanically integrated 3U CubeSats, the system launches as a single unit (WISDOM-A), then autonomously separates into WISDOM-A and WISDOM-B for realistic proximity operations and collision avoidance testing.

International Space Cooperation Between Japan And Paraguay, Shinsaku Nakamura, Alejandro Roman, Kei Sato, Yoshinori Kobayashi, Akie Koga, Atsushi Kimura, Adolfo Jara, Osvaldo Almirón

Small Satellite Conference

Space Agency of Paraguay (AEP) has an ambitious goal to achieve an initiative for developments, operations and utilizations of small satellites in Latin America. Authors collaborated to enhance Paraguayan space programs on socioeconomic benefits through 3 items: 1) providing a technical transfer program about small satellite developments, including Paraguayan 2nd small satellite, GuaraniSat-2 Engineering Model tests in Japan; 2) creating a flood hazard map and designing inter-sectional framework for evacuation planning as a satellite data application on disaster management; and 3) developing soybean monitoring systems through multiple optical satellite data analysis and combining weather information with agricultural and Livestock minitries …

Leo Catalog Quality Monitoring For Live Operations And Mission Analysis, Lois Reid, Sam Johnson

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Modular Payload Connectivity For Rapid Integration And Testing, Sam Feldman, Noah Gladden, Rahul Rughani, Dave Barnhart

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Next-Generation Earth Observation: Agile Satellites With Cmg Cluster For Enhanced Coverage, Andrea Coco, Simon Debois

Small Satellite Conference

The rapid growth of Earth observation demands cost-effective strategies, such as integrating COTS components and accelerating deployment. A key factor in mission efficiency is spacecraft agility, which enables faster reorientation, improved target tracking, and optimized data collection. A game-changing advancement is the revival of Control Moment Gyroscopes (CMGs) as cost-effective, high-performance actuators. Once constrained by high costs, recent manufacturing innovations and new providers have made CMGs more accessible. With superior torque efficiency and capability, CMGs greatly enhance agility, enabling faster reorientation and improved data collection compared to conventional reaction wheels. This paper presents a comparative case study demonstrating the advantages …

Optical Telescope Paradigms For High-Performance Cost-Effective Smallsats, Tony Hull, Janina Krieg, Florian Gollier, Dustin Ruth, Thomas Westerhoff, Ralf Jedamsik

Small Satellite Conference

ZERODUR®’s supreme thermo-mechanical stability is enabling for high-performance telescopes, including mirror substrates and even the precision metering structure. For on-orbit high-resolution SmallSat telescopes, tight dimensional control may be passively maintained, even while experiencing continuously changing Solar and Earth thermal view factors. This stability is a vast improvement over implementation in alternate materials like aluminum. ZERODUR®’s thermal and strength characteristics are comprehensively described via ~ 100 scientific publications. Innate stability, decades of spaceborne heritage and expert machining and lightweighting from SCHOTT offers special ZERODUR® cost-effective solutions for SmallSat Telescope Design-to-Cost paradigms, even for constellation level implementation. The latest information for such …