About Us
Why CubeSats?
Seventy years ago, space exploration was a dream being realized. Only a few select countries had the ability to prove their technological prowess and leave Earth's atmosphere. Since that time however, space exploration has become less of a proof of concept and more of a necessity for technological development. GPS smartphone apps, television programming, and weather monitoring are a few of many ways in which satellites have become a cornerstone of daily life in developed societies. After nearly 70 years since the development of Earth's first space programs, satellite technology has seen rapid improvements, and many new countries and private entities have gained access to our invaluable resource in the sky. One aspect of space exploration has failed to see similar improvements however: the cost.
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With most basic satellite missions costing millions of dollars, many countries are still unable benefit from space exploration. CubeSats provide a solution to this. Being small, robust, and light, CubeSats offer customization to meet the requirements of specific missions, while remaining cost-effective. Launching a satellite is often a difficult step in overcoming the financial barrier of space travel, however the CubeSat's lightweight design means that it requires less fuel and preparation to be launched. Furthermore, simple and robust hardware inside the CubeSat reduces the technical barrier for countries and organizations aiming develop space technology.
Our Mission
With simplicity and cost-effectiveness in mind, JMU DukeSat has set out to develop a CubeSat design that will allow newer organizations to access space. We are designing a structure that will be secure and comply with flight regulations while remaining cheap and easy to manufacture. The structure is the backbone of our CubeSat prototype, providing us with specified dimensions and customization options for our interior components.
Those same values which guide our structure design are also programmed into our network. We believe that an effective network is one that both a satellite novice and a satellite expert can use effectively and to its fullest potential. With this in mind, we are designing a microcontroller-based network, ready to connect an array of satellites to each other and to a single ground station. The ability for inter-satellite connection makes CubeSats much more effective because they are able to gather more data and have more frequent access to the ground station. Powered by cost-effective yet resilient XBee hardware, the JMU DukeSat mesh network is efficient for those looking to optimize their space program.