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UTEP Hosts CubeSat Workshop on Small Satellite Design, Testing and Operation

Last Updated on March 06, 2020 at 12:00 AM

Originally published March 06, 2020

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

Faculty and staff from The University of Texas at El Paso's Department of Mechanical Engineering and NASA MIRO Center for Space Exploration and Technology Research (cSETR) learned about the intricacies of the CubeSat - miniaturized satellites used in space research - during a workshop presented by members of the California Polytechnic State University's (Cal Poly) PolySat laboratory Friday, March 6, 2020, in the Undergraduate Learning Center.

Faculty and staff from The University of Texas at El Paso's Department of Mechanical Engineering and NASA MIRO Center for Space Exploration and Technology Research (cSETR) learned about the intricacies of the CubeSat - miniaturized satellites used in space research - during a workshop presented by members of the California Polytechnic State University's (Cal Poly) PolySat laboratory Friday, March 6, 2020, in the Undergraduate Learning Center. Photo: JR Hernandez / UTEP Communications
Faculty and staff from The University of Texas at El Paso's Department of Mechanical Engineering and NASA MIRO Center for Space Exploration and Technology Research (cSETR) learned about the intricacies of the CubeSat - miniaturized satellites used in space research - during a workshop presented by members of the California Polytechnic State University's (Cal Poly) PolySat laboratory Friday, March 6, 2020, in the Undergraduate Learning Center. Photo: JR Hernandez / UTEP Communications

Cal Poly, located in San Luis Obispo, California, is recognized as the creator of the CubeSat standard, which facilitates access to space research for university students.

Friday’s workshop introduced UTEP students and faculty to the best practices related to small satellite design, testing and operation. It included lessons learned from a Cal Poly team with more than two decades of experience in CubeSat development. Workshop attendees left with a greater understanding of small satellite development, which will enable the UTEP small satellite program to continue to grow.

At UTEP, cSETR promotes research and education in aerospace and energy technologies. It also creates opportunities to link and integrate UTEP’s research efforts in energy science and engineering into a broad, interdisciplinary research venture. Recently, the program celebrated successful communication with its Orbital Factory-2 satellite project, a significant feat that highlights UTEP’s position as a national leader in technological research and its implementation.

“The Cal Poly CubeSat Lab has over 20 years of experience in small satellite development,” said Amelia Greig, Ph.D., assistant professor of mechanical engineering. “At UTEP we are just starting our small satellite program. Having access to the incredible knowledge of the Cal Poly CubeSat lab at this time will be of immeasurable help to UTEP students wanting to be involved in developing small satellites. This training will no doubt help our future satellite missions run more smoothly and be as successful as possible.”