Microspace Mentors Small Satellite Student Competition

Do you know how to change the oil in your car? What about re-wiring your house with all new plug outlets? These are seemingly simple things that many people don't know how to do. Now, what about developing a satellite that can deliver data connectivity from space back down to antenna receivers on the ground? Simple, right?

That is what the student group, United Kingdom Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS) is not only capable of, but is competing to see which student can do it best!

Advancing the Satellite Technology Community As a member of Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI), Microspace has been given the opportunity to participate in the UKSEDs program.

SEDS is a 501(c)3 non-profit that empowers young people to participate and make an impact in space exploration. SEDS helps students develop their technical and leadership skills by providing opportunities to manage and participate in national projects as well as to attend conferences, publish their work, and develop their professional network, in order to help students become more effective in their present and future careers in industry, academia, government, and education. SEDS Official Website

Small Satellites for Enterprise Communications Small satellites (smallsats) is not yet a proven method for enterprise communications. For enterprise-level communication connectivity, the situation is complex. There are many aspects and variables that make smallsats tricky, like how smallsats would be powered or controlled in-flight. However, to today's innovative students in the SEDS program, developing a smallsat and having it successfully perform its function is sufficient.

Mentoring The Next Generation of Satellite Technologists Vice President and General Manager of Microspace, Joe Amor, is working with the UKSEDS team, which is located at the Cranfield University in the UK. He has had Skype video and audio calls communicating with the team leader.

During those conversations, we have discussed the scope of the Small Sat project and the desired outcomes. We have discussed the feasibility of their designs. I have posed questions to the team in an effort for them to make value decisions and realize the operational, financial and political aspects of their design.

Joe Amor, Vice President & General Manager, Microspace Communications

Additionally, there have been email discussions about their decisions, and their progress toward meeting the competition's deadline for entry.

Making a Difference In Today's Youth Space exploration, engineering, and communications technology are vital areas for our world's future. Ever since its inception in the 1980s, Microspace Communications has emphasized this importance by maintaining a connection with student organizations and programs.

For instance, Microspace's Expert Resource Network is comprised of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, Duke University, and more.

Microspace understands the rate at which technology is evolving on a global scale, and participates in mentoring and supporting today's youth that will one day take the lead on our communications system technology.

The 2017 Competition To learn more about the smallsats competition, visit SSPI's competition page: http://www.sspi.org/cpages/2017-competition-small-sats-the-next-generation

LINK:	http://microspace.com/2017/microspace-mentors-small-satellite-student-...
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