Human and Technological Capacity Building through the Sharjah-Sat-1 CubeSat Project

Paper number

IAC-22,B4,IP,7,x69507

Author

Ms. Tarifa AlKaabi, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST)

Coauthor

Prof. Ilias Fernini, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST)

Coauthor

Mr. Yousuf Faroukh, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST)

Coauthor

Mrs. Fatima Alketbi, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST)

Coauthor

Ms. Amel Alhammadi, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST)

Coauthor

Mrs. Maryam Alansaari, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST)

Coauthor

Prof.Dr. Alim Rustem Aslan, Turkey, Istanbul Technical University

Coauthor

Mr. Bogac Karabulut, Turkey, Istanbul Technical University

Coauthor

Prof. Emrah Kalemci, Turkey, Sabanci University

Coauthor

Prof. Hamid M.K. Al-Naimiy, United Arab Emirates, University of Sharjah

Year

2022

Abstract

Sharjah-Sat-1 is 3U+ CubeSat, carrying a primary payload consisting of an X-ray detector to study bright X-ray sources in our Galaxy and a dual-camera system as a secondary, remote-sensing application payload. It is the first small satellite mission of the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST) and University of Sharjah (UoS), developed in close collaboration with Istanbul Technical University Space Systems Design and Test Laboratory (ITU-SSDTL), and Sabanci University (SU).
Small satellites, especially of the CubeSat standard, have been of great interest to universities and educational establishments, largely due to the lower costs and shorter development time they involve. This makes them ideal for engaging students in satellite missions' design, testing, and operation and offers a unique firsthand experience in the space industry. The Sharjah-Sat-1 project has provided an essential basis of theoretical and hands-on knowledge of space technologies. This included various extensive workshops to the team of undergraduate students involved and public outreach programs on satellites and space systems. 
Additionally, the project has created a solid infrastructure at the academy to develop further CubeSat missions in the future. Throughout the mission duration, the CubeSat laboratory at SAASST has been expanding and building the necessary facilities vital for the mission's success. This includes the high-performance workstation prepped with the required software to design, simulate and analyze the task in the space environment, the cleanroom (ISO6 certified) to integrate and test the satellite subsystems, and the ground station (VHF/UHF) needed to communicate with CubeSat once it is in orbit. Furthermore, the participating students have been trained on the use of the different software applications and the operation of the ground station in the scope of the Sharjah-Sat-1 mission. The human and technological capacities that the Sharjah-Sat-1 project has built will certainly be transferred to future projects.

Abstract document

IAC-22,B4,IP,7,x69507.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-22,B4,IP,7,x69507.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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