CubeSat

Laboratory

We are building the future in Sharjah by pushing ourboundariesskillscapabilitiesinto space and demonstrate our capabilities all over the world

About the Laboratory ...

The CubeSat Laboratory at the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST) is dedicated to building CubeSat missions through designing, fabricating, testing and operating.

The CubeSat program at SAASST is interdisciplinary effort, open to qualified students from the University of Sharjah. The Laboratory is equipped with (1) high-performance workstations loaded with the required software to design and simulate a satellite in the space environment, (2) an ISO 6 Cleanroom for satellite subsystems integration, and (3) a VHF/UHF Ground Station to receive telemetry and commanding once launched.

Our Vision

To lead in Research and Development of CubeSats technologies, while providing services to educational institutions to accelerate the UAE's race to space.

Main Research Objectives

To be a leading institute in CubeSat technology.
1
To master all the stages of designing, building, testing, and integrating the CubeSats' subsystems.
2
To give UoS students and SAASST Research Assistants the ability to learn the engineering and scientific concepts of Space Sciences research.
3
To build the first UoS/SAASST CubeSat and, subsequently, future CubeSats projects.
4
To contribute through research and development in the UAE's ambitious National Space Program, and towards advancing its role in the competitive fast-growing space sector.
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What is a CubeSat?

It's a class of nano-satellites that use a standard size and form factor

Introduction

CubeSats are a modern, refined, and highly miniaturized version of large satellites that are deployed into Earth orbit for communications and scientific experiments purposes.

Size structure

A CubeSat could come in one 10×10×10 cm unit, called (1U), or a stack of multiple units, making 2U, 3U, 4U CubeSats, etc.
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Mass structure

A 1U CubeSat has a mass of no more than 1.33 kilograms (2.9 lb), and often use commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components for their electronics and structure.

Purpose

The main reason for miniaturizing satellites is to reduce the cost of deployment: they are often suitable for launch in multiples

Hone Skills & Experiences

Through each of our projects, we touch lives. Our mission is simple- To serve the science and make the difference.

Structure
Structure
Size & Mass
Power
Power
Solar Panels
Computing
Computing
Computers Handling
Telecommunications
Telecommunications
UHF / VHF
Attitude Control
Attitude Control
Orbital Maneuvers
Antennas
Antennas
High-Gain Reflector
Propulsion
Propulsion
Rapid Advancements
Thermal Management
Thermal Management
 Temperature Ranges

Strategic Partnerships

Our success has really been based on partnerships from the very beginning



“The University of Sharjah is an Emirati private national university located in University City, Sharjah,  It was established in 1997 by its founder, president and chairman, the ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi to meet the emirate of Sharjah's aim of educational needs.”


“Istanbul Technical University is an international technical university located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the world's third-oldest technical university dedicated to engineering sciences as well as social sciences recently, and is one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey.”


“Analytical Graphics, Inc (AGI) produces commercial off the shelf software products for the aerospace and defense industry. It's primary products are Satellite Tool Kit (STK) and Orbit Determination Tool Kit (ODTK). The products are used to perform integrated analysis of land, sea, air, and space assets.”

Our
Project

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integration and assembly

The integration and assembly of the CubeSat components are carried out inside SAASST’s cleanroom, which will assure the protection of the sensitive electronics and instruments. The initial tests are also being performed in the cleanroom, but the qualification and acceptance tests that require specialized facilities are done at other sites. Once SharjahSat-1 is in orbit, SAASST’s ground station will be used for communication (Telemetry, Tracking, and Commanding).

About the Project

Sharjah-Sat-1

Overview

SharjahSat-1 is the first CubeSat mission to be developed by SAASST, aiming to build the capacities and expertise for future CubeSat missions. It is a 3U+ CubeSat to be operated in low Earth orbit (LEO). The CubeSat consists of two primary payloads: an improved X-Ray detector (iXRD) and a duo camera system. The design and development of the CubeSat are in collaboration with Istanbul Technical University-Space Systems Design and Testing Laboratory (ITU-SSDTL), while the development of the iXRD is managed by Sabanci University High Energy Physics Laboratory (SU-HEULAB).
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SHARJAH-SAT-1
Scientific Goals

Coronal Holes

Coronal Holes

Observe solar coronal holes and their effect on space weather conditions
Bright Galactic

Bright Galactic

Detect hard X-rays from very bright galactic X-ray sources such as black holes and neutron stars

The scientific goal of the mission is to observe and study the development of solar coronal holes, responsible for driving the stellar wind at an early phase. Moreover, hard X-rays from very bright galactic X-ray sources will be complementary targets. Blackhole candidates and pulsars can emit radiation up to a few 100 keVs , making them potential targets. Another aim of opportunity is the transient bright events, like gamma-ray burst, magnetar bursts, and nearby tidal disruption events.
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The primary science instrument onboard is the iXRD (developed by Sabancı University in collaboration with ITU-SSDTL), which will provide an improved version of XRD onboard BeEagleSat, one of the QB50 project CubeSats. The leading technology behind iXRD will be a CdZnTe-based crystal, operational in the hard X-rays regime, between 20 and 200 keV energy range. The target spectral resolution of the detector is 6 keV at 60 keV.

Our Facilities

The open range serves as an excellent metaphor for today's modern workspace unbounded, uncharted to a large extent, and full of opportunity

Cleanroom

The CubeSat Laboratory cleanroom was Certified ISO 6 as of Nov. 06, 2019. Its mission is to facilitate high-level research on space systems while, at the same time, providing students with education and training in a professional environment.

The cleanroom is an immaculately clean laboratory, in which work is conducted as meticulously as possible so that the risk of particle contamination is minimized. The Laboratory is in the process of getting various test rigs, a vacuum oven, and a Helmholtz Cage used for testing Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) of nanosatellites, among other equipment.

Students and researchers use the cleanroom to build and test hardware (assembly and integration) for spacecraft. Sharjah-Sat-1 is the first CubeSat to be built and tested in the SAASST cleanroom.
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Workshop

Adjacent to the cleanroom, there is a workshop facility for construction, assembly, integration, and testing. It is equipped to perform mechanical, electrical, and electronic activities to support cleanroom work.

The workshop has different mechanical tools, a fixed drilling rig, electrical and electronic test equipment, power supplies, soldering stations, and a 3D printer.

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Ground Station

In collaboration with Istanbul Technical University, SAASST research assistants, along with students from the University of Sharjah, have assembled and installed a complete ground station system. SAASST Ground Station is licensed for radio operation from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

The UHF/VHF antennas will be used to track and control satellites through the reception of high rate data and the transmission of control commands. Thus, the Ground Station is equipped with several antennas:
  • Tracking UHF / VHF antennas in the amateur space frequency bands.
  • Tracking UHF / VHF antennas for the commercial space bands.
In terms of hardware, the Ground station is equipped with the most advanced transceiver available today, an antenna controller, and the controller interface to make it a fully automated system. On the other hand, in terms of software, the workstation in the Ground Station is equipped with the software that allows automated tracking and data reception.

Moreover, the Ground Station is entirely remotely controlled from inside the Laboratory.
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Students Workshop

We refine and strengthen the students skills through valuable workshops
with real-time experiences to enable them to become tomorrow’s leaders
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The CubeSat Laboratory Training Courses and Workshops provide students with great technology development experience. They enhance student learning and personal development under organized professional guidance and support. Since the establishment of the laboratory, various workshops in CanSat/CubeSat technology, Simulation and Analysis software, and other topics related to Small Satellite development and testing have been presented. The workshops allow students to meet and work with experts/researchers in the field of CubeSat technology to inspire them and aid their acquisition of necessary skills to become successful Space technology in the future. They also serve to build and develop the capacities in this field for future projects and missions.

CubeSat/CanSat Workshop

A three-day workshop has been organized during the period Jan. 08-10, 2018, by Prof. Alim Rustem from the Istanbul Technical University and his CubeSat team. During the workshop, 79 students from the University of Sharjah had hands-on experience in building 15 different CanSats using COTS components.

Throughout the three-day program, the students were exposed to following topics: the CanSat, Mission Definition, Sensors, CanSat Hardware and Software, Programming of Microcontrollers, Programming of GPS, CanSat Ground Station Development, CanSat Structural Design, CanSat Design and Development, CanSat Descent and Landing System Design, CanSat Final Integration and Functional Checks, CanSat Drop Test, and Post Launch Analysis.