SFU-1 Team Rockets Past Key Milestone in Satellite Mission

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The students and faculty behind Saint Francis University's first satellite project celebrate a major milestone as they prepare to launch their groundbreaking CubeSat mission into space.

SFU-1 Team Completes Mission Definition Review

The School of STEAM and the Department of Mathematics, Engineering, and Computer Science (MECS) at Saint Francis University are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in developing the university's first satellite, SFU-1. On December 6th, 2024, the SFU-1 team successfully completed the Mission Definition Review (MDR), marking a critical step forward in this groundbreaking project.

SFU-1, a small 3U CubeSat roughly the size of a shoebox, is being developed entirely on campus by an interdisciplinary team of students and faculty from the Chemistry and MECS departments. The mission of SFU-1 is to study the effects of solar flares on the Earth's ionosphere-the uppermost layer of the atmosphere-shedding light on how solar activity influences our planet's space environment. The satellite is slated for launch in late 2027.

The Mission Definition Review: A Critical Milestone

The Mission Definition Review is a pivotal event in any space mission. Its purpose is to clearly articulate the mission's objectives and establish a baseline architecture for the project. For the SFU-1 team, this four-hour review was an opportunity to showcase months of hard work and planning.

During the MDR, students presented on a wide range of technical and operational topics, including:

Science Objectives and Proposed Experiments: Outlining how SFU-1 will collect data on solar flare-ionosphere interactions.

Power Systems: Detailing methods for generating and storing energy to support satellite operations.

Attitude Control: Ensuring the satellite can maintain and adjust its orientation in space.

Command and Data Handling: Managing onboard systems and data transmission.

Communications: Establishing a reliable link between the satellite and ground operations.

Ground Operations: Preparing for satellite monitoring and data collection from campus facilities.

The MDR's successful completion demonstrates the team's readiness to advance to the next phase of the mission.

Looking Ahead: Preliminary Design Review

The next major milestone for SFU-1 is the Preliminary Design Review (PDR), scheduled for the fall of 2025. During the PDR, the team will present detailed designs of the satellite's systems and demonstrate that the mission's objectives can be achieved within the constraints of budget, schedule, and available technology.

A Collaborative Effort in Education and Innovation

The SFU-1 project highlights the power of hands-on learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. By engaging students and faculty from different fields, Saint Francis University is not only advancing space science but also preparing the next generation of engineers, scientists, and innovators. The SFU-1 mission is a testament to what can be achieved when a community of learners comes together to tackle ambitious goals. As the team continues to work toward the satellite's launch in 2027, the entire university eagerly anticipates the discoveries that SFU-1 will bring to light.

Stay tuned for more updates as the SFU-1 team progresses toward the stars!