Increasing System Engineer Competence Through In-House Tracking Antenna Development Project

Thaichote launched in 2008 is the first earth observation satellite owned by Thailand. Since then, Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency or GISTDA has gained experience in satellite operation and initiated many projects in-house with the objective to increase the capabilities of engineers. Recently small satellites operating in Low Earth Orbit for communication purposes are a significant focus by many companies worldwide. Consequently automatic tracking antenna are necessary for new communication satellites. This paper presents the hands-on capacity building of system engineers to develop a small automatic tracking antenna. Enhancing the competence of system engineers in this project involves a combination of designing, implementing and improving problem solving, technical & communication skills, also team working to ensure that systems meet the requirements. The prototype has been developed according to the project management plan. The prototype consists of two subsystems, the tracking antenna and the monitoring-control system. The function test results reveal that the prototype can operate automatically according to the satellite location and display the status of the system correctly.