The conference was under the theme “Space Science with Small Satellites.” The CubeSat laboratory has presented six papers on Sharjah-Sat-1, Sharjah-Sat-2, and Sharjah-Sat-3.

The fifth edition of the symposium covered the rapid advances made in the last decade in small, micro, and nano-satellites for space science. The symposium also covered the emerging space debris issue in Low-Earth Orbit. Another focus area was capacity building using small satellite technologies and the perspective of emerging space nations such as Singapore.

SAASST papers for COSPAR 2023 are intended to showcase SAASST’s great achievements in satellite building as per the launch of Sharjah-Sat-1 on Jan. 03, 2023, and the preparation for Sharjah-Sat-2 and Sahrjah-Sat-3.

The SAASST team emphasized the use of CubeSats as a tool for space exploration due to their small size, low cost, and versatility. These small satellites typically have a standard size of 10 centimeters cubed and weigh no more than 1.33 kilograms. They are often used for scientific research, technology demonstrations, and educational purposes. CubeSats are launched into space as secondary payloads, which means they can piggyback on larger spacecraft launches, allowing for more cost-effective and frequent access to space. In addition, their small size and low cost make them ideal for testing new technologies and conducting rapid prototyping in space. With their increasing popularity, CubeSats are poised to play an increasingly important role in space exploration and science in the coming years.