Milestone achieved: AcubeSAT Communications subsystem passes environmental test campaign
Fly Your Satellite! is an ESA programme that supports university students to design, build, launch, and even operate their own satellites. Participating in the third edition is AcubeSAT, a SpaceDot project run by a team of students from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in addition to members from various other Greek and European universities. The miniature satellite aims to boost space biology research by investigating the effects of radiation and microgravity on eukaryotic cells' behaviour, and testing microfluidic chips as modular devices for multi-parallel biotechnological experiments in orbit.
Four members of the team recently travelled from Thessaloniki to the CubeSat Support Facility in ESA ESEC, Belgium. The mission: test their Communications subsystem, which was made by the students themselves. Rigorous testing was deemed essential to ensure the subsystem will perform well during the mission, and the students were eager to demonstrate its capabilities!
The test campaign kicked off with a demanding vibration test, simulating the intense conditions that the Communications board will face during its launch. The board not only withstood the shaking, but continued to be fully operational afterwards, proving its robust design.
Next on the agenda were thermal cycling tests, intended to replicate the vacuum of space and its extreme temperatures. Unexpected challenges required the students to think on their feet and demonstrate remarkable problem-solving skills, implementing speedy modifications that improved the subsystem’s resilience.
Now back at their home base in Thessaloniki, the students are busy analysing the wealth of data generated during the tests. The information collected will be used to modify the subsystem, with the aim for it to be as effective and reliable as possible.
Congratulations to the AcubeSAT team on reaching this significant milestone on their journey toward sending a satellite into space!
- To stay up-to-date with AcubeSAT and other Fly Your Satellite! teams, please visit https://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/
