Space and CubeSat

The Solar System and the Dream of Exploration
1.1 Why We Study the Solar System
1.2 From Ancient Skywatchers to Space Engineers
1.3 The Modern Solar System
1.4 Why Small Satellites Matter
1.5 The Solar System as a Laboratory
1.6 Foundations of Spaceflight Physics
1.7 Orbits and Gravitation
1.8 Energy from the Sun
1.9 The Solar System as a Testing Ground
1.10 Hands-On Mini-Project: Build a Planetary Data Mission
1.11 CubeSat Design Challenge 1: Mission Inspiration

Understanding Space and Gravity
2.1 The Force That Shapes the Universe
2.2 A Historical Glimpse
2.3 Mass, Weight, and What “Heavy” Means
2.4 Falling, Floating, and Orbiting
2.5 Escape from Earth
2.6 The Shape of Space — Einstein’s Gravity Well
2.7 The Mathematics of Orbits
Kepler’s First Law (The Law of Ellipses)
Kepler’s Second Law (The Law of Equal Areas)
Kepler’s Third Law
Example (Simplified)
2.8 Everyday Proofs of Gravity
2.9 Experiment 1 — All Things Fall the Same
2.10 Experiment 2 — Measuring “g” with a Pendulum
2.11 Experiment 3 — A Model Orbit
2.12 Gravitational Strengths Across the Solar System
2.13 Microgravity Floating Without Magic
2.14 The Universe Without Gravity — A Thought Experiment

The Sun and Energy for Spacecraft
3.1 The Star That Keeps Us Alive
3.2 Structure of the Sun
1. Core (Nuclear Fusion – 15 million °C)
2. Radiative Zone (Energy moves by photons – 7 million °C)
3. Convective Zone (Hot gas rises, cool gas sinks – 2 million °C)
4. Photosphere (Visible surface – 5 500 °C)
5. Corona (Outer atmosphere – 1–3 million °C)
Chromosphere (Middle layer between Photosphere and Corona – ~4,000 to 25,000 °C)
3.3 How Light Travels Through Space
3.4 The Inverse-Square Law
3.5 Hands-On Experiment 1 — Measuring Light Fall-Off
3.6 Solar Radiation and Space Weather
3.7 Mini Demo — Magnetic Loops
3.8 Energy on Spacecraft
3.9 Hands-On Experiment 2 — Build a Mini Solar Circuit
3.10 Thermal Balance in Space
3.11 Solar Pressure — Light That Pushes
3.12 Design Activity — Power Budget
3.13 Hands-On Experiment 3 — Build a Solar Heater Box
3.14 Spacecraft Examples
3.15 Experiment 4 — Solar Tracking Mechanism (Basic Engineering)
3.16 The Sun as a Hazard and Helper

How Rockets Reach Space: Motion, Orbits, and Multi-Staging
4.1 From Launchpad to Orbit
4.2 Forces During Flight
4.3 The Rocket Equation
4.4 Hands-On Experiment 1 — Balloon Multi-Stage Rocket
4.5 The Gravity Turn
4.6 Atmospheric Challenges
4.7 Velocity and Orbit Altitude
4.8 Thrust-to-Weight Ratio Demo
4.9 Common Rocket Types
4.10 Stage Separation Mechanisms
4.11 Energy Accounting
4.12 Activity — Design Your Own Launch Vehicle
4.13 Reaching Beyond Orbit
4.14 Thought Experiment — If Earth Had No Atmosphere

Inside a Rocket: Engines, Fuels, and Propulsion Systems
5.1 What Makes a Rocket Go?
5.2 Fuel + Oxidizer = Thrust
5.4 Inside the Combustion Chamber
5.5 Specific Impulse — Engine Efficiency
5.6 Hands-On Experiment 1 — Nozzle Shape Test
5.7 Cryogenic Engines — The Cold Giants
5.8 Turbopumps — The Rocket’s Heart
5.9 Ignition Systems
5.10 Solid Rocket Grains — Controlled Burn Geometry
5.11 Hands-On Experiment 3 — Simulated Solid Motor
5.12 Propulsion Beyond Chemicals
5.13 Activity — Comparing Propulsion Types
5.14 Environmental Aspects
5.15 Testing Rocket Engines
5.16 Mini Design Challenge — Build an Engine Concept
5.17 Real Engines to Know
5.18 The Future of Propulsion

Introduction to Satellites and CubeSats
6.1 What Is a Satellite?
6.2 The Evolution of Satellites
6.3 Why CubeSats?
6.4 Anatomy of a CubeSat
6.5 The CubeSat Frame and Size Standards
6.6 Hands-On Experiment 1 — Build a Structural Prototype
6.7 How CubeSats Stay in Orbit
6.8 Powering a CubeSat
6.9 Communication Basics
6.10 Onboard Computer (OBC)
6.11 Payloads — The Mission Itself
6.12 Deployment and Early Operations
6.13 Hands-On Experiment 2 — Command and Telemetry Simulation
6.14 Common CubeSat Missions
6.15 Thermal and Radiation Challenges
6.16 Design Exercise — Plan a 1U Mission
6.17 The CubeSat Lifecycle

The CubeSat Power System
7.1 Power: The Lifeline of Every Satellite
7.2 The Energy Flow in Orbit
7.3 Solar Panels — Capturing Light
7.4 Hands-On Experiment 1 — Measuring Solar Power
7.5 Energy Storage — Batteries in Space
7.6 Hands-On Experiment 2 — Solar Charging Circuit
7.7 Power Conditioning and Regulation
7.8 Energy Budget — How Engineers Plan Power
7.9 Hands-On Experiment 3 — Energy Budget Simulation
7.10 EPS Protection Systems
7.11 Monitoring Power: Telemetry
7.12 Power Distribution Layout
7.13 Handling Eclipse Periods
7.14 Advanced Topic — Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)
7.15 Hands-On Experiment 4 — Build a Solar-Powered System
7.16 Power Efficiency and Thermal Considerations
7.17 Common Failures and Fixes
7.18 Design Challenge — Build Your Own EPS Plan

The Brain of the CubeSat: Onboard Computer and Control System (OBC)
8.1 What Is the OBC?
8.2 Core Components of an OBC
8.3 How the OBC Communicates
8.4 Hands-On Experiment 1 — Your First OBC Program
8.5 Software Architecture
8.6 Data Flow Inside a CubeSat
8.7 Hands-On Experiment 2 — Telemetry Simulation
8.8 Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS)
8.9 Hands-On Experiment 3 — Simulated Attitude Control
8.10 Data Handling and Storage
8.11 Power Management by the OBC
8.12 Error Handling and Fault Recovery
8.13 The Real CubeSat OBC Examples
8.14 Hands-On Experiment 4 — CubeSat Command System
8.15 Scheduling and Task Priority
8.16 Safety Mode Logic
8.17 Data Compression and Downlink Efficiency
8.18 Design Challenge — Build Your OBC Architecture.

Communication and Ground Stations
9.1 Why Communication Is Vital
9.2 The Communication System Overview
9.3 Frequencies Used in CubeSats
9.4 How Radio Waves Work
9.5 Hands-On Experiment 1 — Build a Simple Dipole Antenna
9.6 Types of Antennas in CubeSats
9.7 Signal Modulation
9.8 Hands-On Experiment 2 — Wireless Telemetry Demo
9.9 How Data Packets Work
9.10 Ground Stations
9.11 Hands-On Experiment 3 — Build a Mini Ground Station
9.12 Tracking CubeSats
9.13 Understanding Signal Loss and Noise
9.14 Link Budget — Estimating Communication Range
9.15 Uplink Commands — Sending to CubeSat
9.16 Hands-On Experiment 4 — Command and Telemetry Loop
9.17 Data Decoding and Visualization
9.18 Communication Failures and Safety

The Payload and Sensors
10.1 What Is a Payload?
10.2 Types of CubeSat Payloads
10.3 Common Sensors Used in CubeSats
10.4 Hands-On Experiment 1 — Temperature and Light Sensors
10.5 Sensor Calibration and Units
10.6 Data Fusion — Combining Sensor Readings
10.7 Hands-On Experiment 2 — Magnetic Field Mapping
10.8 Sensor Mounting and Orientation
10.9 Payload Data Flow
10.10 Hands-On Experiment 3 — Environmental Data Logger
10.11 Imaging Payloads
10.12 Hands-On Experiment 4 — Imaging Mission Simulation
10.13 Advanced Payload Concepts
10.14 Data Compression and Management
10.15 Payload Protection
10.16 Power and Data Interfaces
10.17 Sensor Integration Challenges
10.18 Design Challenge — Plan Your CubeSat Payload.

Testing, Integration, and Launch Simulation
11.1 Why Testing Is Critical
11.2 Stages of CubeSat Testing
11.3 Subsystem Pre-Checks
11.4 Hands-On Experiment 1 — Power Load Test
11.5 System Integration – The CubeSat Comes Alive
11.6 Hands-On Experiment 2 — Full-System Integration Test
11.7 Mechanical & Structural Tests
11.8 Hands-On Experiment 3 — Vibration Test Simulation
11.9 Thermal Testing (Classroom Adaptation)
11.10 Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Awareness
11.11 Ground Communication Test
11.12 Mission Simulation — The Big Test
11.13 Data Analysis
11.14 Hands-On Experiment 4 — Fault Simulation
11.15 Integration Review Checklist
11.16 Environmental and Launch Readiness Review (Mock)
11.17 Simulated Launch Event
11.18 Common Failures and Lessons Learned

Final Design, Testing, and Presentation of CubeSat
12.1 Overview of the Final Phase
12.2 Mission Planning and Objectives
12.3 System Design Review
12.4 Full Integration and Wiring
12.5 Environmental and Functional Testing
12.6 Mission Simulation Run
12.7 Data Analysis and Report Generation
12.8 Final Design Presentation
12.9 Demonstration Day (Optional Showcase)