Small Satellites as a Gateway to Hands-On Space Systems Education

The rapid advancement and increasing accessibility of space technologies have opened new avenues for enriching aerospace engineering education in undergraduate institutions. Small satellites, such as CubeSat-class satellites, have emerged as an attractive budget- and schedule-effective platform for hands-on learning experiences by allowing students to engage in real-world engineering challenges in a full design-build-test-launch-operate cycle, within the time limitations of an under-graduate degree program. This paper presents an pedagogical approach that incorporates small satellites as an educational tool for aerospace engineering concepts in the context of undergraduate education. The implementation of small satellite technology in the Aerospace Engineering program at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) will serve as an example of project-based learning using CubeSats, and will include program recommendations as well as a discussion of the challenges and opportunities small satellites present in the undergraduate classroom. The challenges and limitations associated with the utilization of small satellites in a teaching environment such as time and financial constraints, regulatory considerations, and technical hurdles are analyzed, along with strategies to over-come these obstacles. Additionally, the importance of collaboration with industry partners and space agencies is emphasized to facilitate access to resources and ensure the success of such educational endeavors. The paper also discusses the overall impact of integrating CubeSats into an Aerospace Engineering curriculum on student learning outcomes and career prospects.