Stp-H12-Vantage: Combining Visual And Event-Based Sensing For Earth Observation, Diego Wildenstein, Michael J. Cannizzaro, Ian Peitzsch, Linus Silbernagel, Joshua Poravanthattil, Peter Drum, Mark Hofmeister, Cole Bowman, Natan Herzog, Evan W. Gretok, Alan D. George

Small Satellite Conference

Conducting Earth-observation tasks from orbit can provide valuable research insights in fields such as meteorology, geology, forestry, cartography, and defense. Developing and building space payloads for Earth observation poses significant challenges, including the high cost of radiation-tolerant systems, the widening gap between current state-of-the-art apps and the capabilities of space-grade processors, and the increase in fidelity of modern sensors. Many Earth-observation missions typically collect data by leveraging visual and/or multispectral imagers. However, when using conventional imaging, there can be significant losses in context due to the frame-based operation of these sensors, as well as both relevant and irrelevant data mixed …

Doing Business On Indian Reservations: Tribal Business Owners' Perspectives On Entrepreneurship, Terry L. Anderson, Thomas Stratmann

Indigenous Business & Public Administration

This paper reports insights from focus group discussions from Montana reservations, which provide insights and perspectives on the experiences of Native American entrepreneurs. The narratives from these discussions highlight the challenges the current regulatory context poses for entrepreneurial activities and their communities. The participants spoke of regulatory unpredictability and inefficiency, resulting in uncertainty faced by business owners and thus not impeding economic prosperity. The discussions also revealed a disconnect between tribal governments and community members, characterized by a lack of transparency and accountability. Judicial independence emerged as another significant concern. These insights from the focus groups suggest a path forward …

Advancing Literacy Instruction: Bridging Evidence-Based And Culturally Responsive Practices To Serve All Learners, Jamie L. Nord

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

As Minnesota's student population becomes increasingly diverse, persistent literacy achievement gaps among students of color, multilingual learners, and students from low-income backgrounds demand urgent attention. While the state's READ Act mandates structured, evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in the Science of Reading, its successful implementation must not overshadow the equally vital need for culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy. This white paper argues for a comprehensive, dual-framework approach that integrates both evidence-based literacy practices and culturally affirming instructional strategies

Unlocking Reading Success: Addressing The Literacy Crisis In The United States, Jennifer Kaczrowski-Taylor

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This white paper addresses the literacy crisis in the United States. Currently, in the educational system, millions of children lack access to research-based reading instruction and, as a result, struggle to become proficient readers. Despite decades of academic and reform efforts, national reading achievement has been declining. This literacy crisis can be traced back to outdated or inconsistent instructional practices, socioeconomic background, lack of research-based instructional curricula, as well as inconsistent and ineffective implementation of these approaches. Based on recent research and national data, this white paper advocates for aligning teacher education and professional development with the Science of Reading. …

Senior Living: Filling The Gap, Katy J. Johnson

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This white paper explores how colleges and universities can help address the housing crisis for Americans aged 65 and older by integrating seniors into college campuses. This approach not only helps to fill dormitories but also provides students with valuable work experience. The paper examines three key issues: the Silver Tsunami (the growing senior population), declining enrollment leading to campus housing vacancies, and the financial burden of higher education. By advocating for intergenerational living, the proposal offers an innovative solution that benefits seniors, students, and universities.

An Exploratory Study Of Soft Skills Development Expectations In Two-Year Generation Z College Students, Kelli Hallsten Erickson

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

Workplace demands around competent demonstration of soft skills have been steadily increasing; therefore, institutions of higher education have started focusing attention on instilling these skills within their student populations. The latest generational cohort to enter college and the workforce, Generation Z, has only recently begun to be studied for the impact of its members’ attitudes towards work and how those might change employer expectations around soft skills. A research gap exists, however, regarding students in Generation Z attending two-year schools and which soft skills they feel are most valuable to their future careers. This study sought to explore those attitudes …

Teacher Recruitment And Retention As A School Improvement Strategy, Carl Bryan

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

Fewer issues have received more attention by education researchers than understanding the global teacher shortage, especially in public schools. Concurrent with this issue is the concern that the rate of teacher hires is insufficient to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse body of students. This phenomenon gains significance considering policymakers’ calls for restructuring the way schools do business to meet the needs of students and schools in the era of school accountability. It is crucial not to overlook the substantial body of research which suggests how the practices under No Child Left Behind have complicated the retention of teachers …

Implications Of The Pending Wisconsin Supreme Court Ruling On Act 10, Carl J. Bryan

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This white paper examines the potential implications of the pending Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, a landmark labor law that significantly restricted collective bargaining rights for public sector employees, including teachers and university professors. The ruling stands to reshape the landscape of public sector labor relations in Wisconsin, impacting public educators’ bargaining power, labor-management dynamics, and ultimately, the quality of public education. Drawing on scholarly research, this paper outlines the key challenges posed by the potential legal uncertainty and proposes a multi-pronged approach centered on collaborative labor-management frameworks, contingency planning, inclusive policymaking, capacity …

Microgravity Testing Of A Thermal Start Basket For Propellant Repositioning, Hugh Chen, Álvaro Romero-Calvo

Small Satellite Conference

CubeSat cold-gas propulsion increasingly relies on two-phase propellants stored in conformal tanks. However, state-of-the-art propellant management strategies for these systems result in significant portions of the tank being occupied by vapor, reducing the amount of storable propellant. They also require high power input for vapor expulsion, increasing mission complexity and limiting operational lifetime. These challenges highlight the need for a more robust propellant management approach. The VAporization for PrOpellant Repositioning (VAPOR) experiment investigates the feasibility of repositioning an ullage gas bubble of R-236fa using thermally-induced phase change in various propellant management devices (PMD). These devices utilize a heat source to …

Development Of The Music Hall Thruster Family For Small Satellite Missions: Current Status And Upcoming Missions, George-Cristian Potrivitu, Matteo Laterza, Khoo Kai Sheng, Nunki Pontianus, Suryono Gunawan Ali, Justin Ong, Dylan Lim, Zhuo Xuan Chua, Wei Jian Joshua Lim, Willem Frederik Von Lynden, Garreth Christopher Anwar, Mooi Meng Wai, Jian Wei Mark Lim

Small Satellite Conference

The MUSIC – MUlti-Stage Ignition Compact – Hall thruster family is developed to operate at system power below 100 W making it ideal for small satellites ranging from 3 U to a few 100 kg. The concept relies on the versatility of the MUSIC thruster unit which can be operated in various modes, and the modularity of the peripherals, i.e., the power and electronic control units, and propellant management assembly. This contribution expands the existing scarce literature on low-power Hall thruster systems that are qualified for flight, presents an overview of the capabilities of the MUSIC Hall thruster, past and …

Ecaps High-Performance Green Propulsion – Enabling Tactically Responsive Space Missions, Wilhelm Dingertz, Peter Thormählen, Odysseas Christofi

Small Satellite Conference

In a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape where space is increasingly viewed as the fourth operational domain, tactically responsive launch capabilities and in-orbit maneuverability are critical. The ability to pre-load spacecraft and maintain them in a ready-to-launch state enables quicker response times, essential for strategic operations. Longterm storable, non/low-hazardous "green" propellants, such as ECAPS’ LMP-103S based on Ammonium DiNitramide (ADN), are key to this agility. These propellants offer improved performance, reduced environmental and operational risks, and facilitate faster spacecraft processing and storage. ECAPS High-Performance Green Propulsion (HPGP) technology has achieved extensive flight heritage with its 1N thruster, across 30+ missions, typically …

Counter-Cartographies [Book Review], Jessica Schomberg

Disability in LIS (DisLIS)

An examination of the work of performance artists as that art relates to pre-DSM 5 diagnostic concepts of autism. French anti-institutionalization activist and experimental filmmaker Fernand Deligny is the artist under primary discussion. Some attention is also paid to the art of Pope.L and Mel Baggs.

Consolidated Simultaneous Ranging And Clock Synchronization With Application To Positioning In Cis-Lunar Space, Junichiro Kawagichi, Shingo Nishimoto

Small Satellite Conference

The AOWR scheme functions as a set of transceivers connecting two entities: the ground station and the spacecraft. The phase difference information obtained from both sides intrinsically contains data related not only to the range but also to the clock difference simultaneously. The AOWR scheme can synchronize the clock onboard the spacecraft regardless of the distance. In cis-lunar space due to poor geometric configurations, until the position is determined, the clock difference cannot be established. It drastically improves and reduces the dilution-of-precision index. The paper will present the outcomes confirmed through demonstration experiments utilizing hybrid devices related to the GNSS …

Standards And Schematics For Intelligent Extensible Mission Architectures In Space, Evana Gizzi, Alan Gibson, James Marshall, Shannon Bull, Timothy Chase Jr., Jonathan Davis, Matthew Dosberg, Michael Johnson, Peter Knudtson, John Lucas, Michael Monaghan, Chris Robberts, Daniel Rogers, Bethany Theiling, Julie Breed, Larry Kepko, Carrie Vuyovich, Connor Firth, Lily Clough, Aaron Woodard, Brian Kempa, Caleb Adams, Robin Onsay, Sam Pedrotty, James Berck

Small Satellite Conference

As the space sector trends toward complex mission types, the demand for multi-asset, multi-generational, and multi-organizational paradigms has grown. It is critical that the spaceflight community builds the infrastructure needed to realize these mission architecture goals. To this end, we present a standard and schematic for intelligent extensible mission architectures, which will allow missions of the future to be distributed, heterogeneous, incremental, and interoperable for enhanced flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness in space. We begin by describing a motivation for intelligent extensibility, followed by a review of related work in standards and autonomous multi-agent systems. Next, we present the theoretical definition …

Machine Learning For Interference Detection And Mitigation On Space Telecom Software-Defined Radio Signals, Adhémar De Senneville, Dennis Ogbe, Zaid Towfic

Small Satellite Conference

Detecting anomalies and interference is an essential capability of contemporary flight radios and ground support equipment. The advent of software-defined radios (SDRs) has made this task feasible. These radios allow real-time monitoring and potential mitigation of interference by adjusting frequency bands. This feature is useful as spacecraft components degrade and interference from other instruments may disrupt communications. The implementation of automated anomaly detection systems on SDRs can enhance both spacecraft and ground station testing by identifying abnormal waveforms and potential interference in communication channels. First, this work investigates how machine learning compares against classical signal processing approaches for the anomaly …

Quarcs Light: Validation Of An Abbreviated Assessment Of Undergraduate Numeracy And Mathematics Affect, Isaac S. Rosenthal, Kate Follette, Vonna L. Hemmler, Catherine Sarosi, Sanlyn Buxner, Erin Galyen, Margaret Shea, Soon-Young Shimizu, Brendan Seto

Numeracy

In this study, we present evidence for the validity of a shortened form of the Quantitative Reasoning for College Science (QuaRCS) Assessment, a validated instrument assessing the numeracy and math-related affect of undergraduate students in general education/introductory science courses. Previously published analyses of QuaRCS data revealed that 1) roughly 30% of students found the assessment boring, leading to lower self-reported effort and 2) affective factors (e.g. numerical self-efficacy) were significant predictors of QuaRCS score. As a result, we reduced the length of the assessment from 25 to 15 quantitative items, and expanded the affective variable selection from three to eight …

Preliminary Scale Analysis Of Formation Flying For Direct-To-Device Communication Using Ultra-Small Satellites, Sumio Morioka, Harunobu Kobayashi

Small Satellite Conference

Direct-to-Device (D2D) communication in satellite constellations is attracting attention for enabling direct links to mobile terminals without large ground antennas. This approach could extend mobile coverage and support future Cyber-Physical System (CPS) use cases, such as connected vehicles and IoT sensing.

To overcome data rate limitations caused by the small antenna size on individual satellites, we propose a formation-flying system that constructs a large-aperture phased array antenna [1]. Our analysis shows that a swarm of tens of thousands of pico- or femto-class satellites can meet the required link budget, enabling broadband D2D communication with practical.

Compact Satellites For Big Insights: Mission Analysis Of A 16u Cubesat For High-Resolution Earth Observation, Abdelmadjid Lassakeur, Kamel Djamel Eddine Kerrouche, Imène Taleb, Abdelhak Benikhlef, Mohammed Amine Meghabber

Small Satellite Conference

The demand for high-resolution Earth observation data has been growing rapidly, driven by applications in environmental monitoring, disaster response, urban planning, and defense. Governments, research institutions, and private companies increasingly rely on detailed satellite imagery to make informed decisions. However, traditional Earth observation satellites are often expensive and require long development timelines, creating a need for more compact and cost-effective solutions. Recent advancements in CubeSat technology, particularly in high-performance Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS), have significantly expanded the capabilities of nanosatellites. These improvements have made it possible for smaller satellites to achieve imaging performance once limited to larger spacecraft. …

Orbital Motion Coordination Using Bio-Inspired Optical Sensing And Feedback, Arif Billah, Imraab A. Faruque

Small Satellite Conference

Summary: Multi-satellite coordinated missions can improve upon larger solitary satellite missions through greater flexibility, efficiency, scalability and redundancy. This study considers a more diverse approach to in-orbit motion coordination that reduce dependence on communication links and absolute position references. The non-linear relative equations of motion applied to a chief satellite and a deputy target in the LEO orbit are considered and a feedback control system to facilitate multi-satellite relative motion coordination is designed. The feedback controller relies on on-board optical sensor measuring optic flow signal, similar to the bio-inspired feedback-controlled systems used for various aerial operations. Performance in orbit is …

The Remote Capability-Auctioning Planner (Recap): A Decentralized Multi-Agent Control System Using Classical Planning, Behavior Trees, And Remote Task Auctions, Connor Firth, Miles Bengtson, Lorin Achey, Alex Barrie

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Application Of Particle Swarm Optimization For Tuning Pi Controllers In Cmg-Driven Pmsm Systems, George Claudiu Andrei, Rocco Pisto

Small Satellite Conference

This work presents the application of an automated PI controller tuning method based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG) systems. CMGs are critical components in aerospace systems, offering high-torque amplification and precise attitude control capabilities. Their superior performance compared to Reaction Wheels (RWs) makes them ideal for demanding applications such as spacecraft orientation and agile maneuvering. At the core of CMG operation are Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs), which are typically controlled using Field-Oriented Control (FOC) for accurate response. FOC relies heavily on the performance of PI controllers within the current and speed control loops. Achieving …

Development Of A Cubesat-Sized Hybrid Chemical Propulsion System For In-Orbit Demonstration, Sheila Langa, Ryosuke Kawabata, Izumi Chimoto, Yasuhiro Fukumoto, Taejun Son, Gonzalo Campos, Shota Hirai, Landon Kamps

Small Satellite Conference

Letara Ltd. is a company based in Hokkaido, Japan, specializing in in-space hybrid chemical propulsion systems. Letara has been actively researching CubeSat-sized hybrid chemical thrusters with a focus on fuel optimization and improved scalability for small satellite applications.

The first project is based on a 2U-sized thruster with the aim to demonstrate a safe, sustainable, and scalable miniaturized hybrid propulsion system in orbit. The technology demonstration is scheduled for 2026.

Development Of The Optical Deep-Space Instrument For Navigation (Odin), Rebecca Inman, Riana Pecourt, Ronney Lovelace, Max Marshall, Ava Thrasher, John Christian, William Driessen

Small Satellite Conference

The Optical Deep-space Instrument for Navigation (ODIN) is a customizable, multiple camera, multiple field-of view (FOV) software and hardware sensor package. The instrument and software design are intended to make optical navigation (OpNav) methods more widely available to small satellite missions.

The ODIN flight software will have autonomous functionalities such as target determination, attitude estimation, and horizon-based position estimation, while still offering the option for manual modes to ease mission operation constraints. The flight software is built in core Flight System (cFS) and is designed to be agnostic to camera selection and placement.

Currently, ODIN is in its second year …

Eeetester – Reliable Cubesat Platform For In-Orbit Testing Of The Space Heritage Of Korean-Made Eee Parts, Ki-Ho Kwon, Sanggoo Kim, Geuk-Nam Kim, Jooin Lee, Jungkyu Lee, Seongwhan Lee

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

End-To-End Lifecycle Testing With A High-Altitude Balloon, Benjamin Skinner, Patrick Walton, Alex Laraway, David Long

Small Satellite Conference

Many small satellite mission failures could be prevented with further end-to-end testing in relevant environments. No test fully matches the spaceflight environment, but partial tests can still be valuable. We developed a high-altitude balloon system for testing our CubeSat radars.

Ensuring Reliable Radiation-Hardened Power Solutions For Versal Fpgas, Bhavika Kagathi

Small Satellite Conference

The use of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) in satellites is common due to their ability to be programmed in real time and their immense data processing power which is vital for the increasing on board processing directly on the satellite. Today’s space grade FPGAs, such as AMD’s Adaptable Compute Acceleration Platform (ACAP), include machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities, but come with stringent power constraints. These FPGAs are designed to operate with low voltages and high currents, leading to demanding power supply requirements. Failure to follow the strict power guidelines can result in unreliable power up and potential damage …

Exploring Beamed Energy Propulsion: Development And Application Of A Configurable Simulation Tool, Charles Cundiff, Michael Harrington, Victoria Coverstone, John Larosa

Small Satellite Conference

Laser sailing enables propellantless spacecraft propulsion by transferring momentum from a directed energy beam to a reflective sail. Unlike traditional chemical or electric propulsion systems, laser sails decouple propulsion performance from onboard mass and stored energy, presenting an opportunity for lightweight, scalable spacecraft maneuvering. This work develops and applies a simulation framework in FreeFlyer to evaluate the performance of laser sailing across a range of orbital missions, with emphasis on low-mass systems, such as CubeSats.

The simulation model incorporates several critical physical effects, including beam divergence, atmospheric attenuation, sail material reflectivity and emissivity, thermal loading, and realistic station visibility. The …

Generation And Detection Of Structured Radio Waves In Small Satellites, Tsukasa Funane, Yosuke Tanabe, Hisatoshi Kimura, Makoto Ito, Koichi Watanabe

Small Satellite Conference

Background

• Small SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellations are developing rapidly.
• The theoretical richness of OAM is expected to be used for radar imaging.
• OAM radar uses spiral wavefronts by applying phase differences to spatially arranged antenna elements.

Purpose

• Develop and experimentally validate a method for generating, transmitting,and detecting structured radio waves—particularly vortex modes carrying orbital angular momentum

Hardening And Advancing Cots Fpga/Gpu Integrated Circuits For The Realization Of Space-Grade System-On-Module, Kwen-Siong Chong, Wei Shu, Joseph S. Chang

Small Satellite Conference

We propose radiation-hardening solutions to mitigate single-event-latchup (SEL) and single-event-upset (SEU) on Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) Field-Programmable-GateArrays (FPGAs) and/or Graphic-Processing-Units (GPUs), advancing COTS FPGAs/GPUs suitable for the realization of spacegrade radiation-tolerant system-on-module (SoM). Our solutions include enhanced power reliability solutions to mitigate SEL, and enhanced data integrity solutions to mitigate SEU. We demonstrate our solutions on an SoM embodying the Xilinx Zync UntraScale+ FPGA, 32GB eMMC, 5 DDR4 memories, and a 32MB QSPI flash. Collectively, on the basis of the (performance × cost) figure-of-merit, our radiation-tolerant SoM is several magnitudes higher than present-art solutions.

Impact Of Physical Interfaces And Interconnectivity On Cubesat Complexity, Development Schedule, And Cost: A Comparative Analysis Of Curtis 3u, Kitsune 6u, And Vertecs 6u, Eyoas Ergetu Areda, Rodrigo Cordova-Alarcon, Hriokazu Masui, Necmi Örger, Kei Sano, Mengu Cho, Takao Nakagawa

Small Satellite Conference

Background

• CubeSat designs vary in their physical interfaces and subsystem interconnectivity, significantly affecting assembly effort, design complexity, and mission reliability.
• This study aims to quantify these effects using standardized assembly and complexity metrics combined with reliability assessment.