What a satellite is, how the CubeSat standard happened, and the systems engineering that holds a mission together
Introduction to Space Systems
The foundation course. Satellite classification, the history that produced the CubeSat, Kenya's place in it, and a working command of the systems engineering lifecycle.
Foundation3 h4 lessonssystems-engineeringcubesathistorylifecycle
What you will be able to do
- Classify a spacecraft by mass and name the CubeSat form factors
- Explain why the CubeSat standard exists and who created it
- Place any design activity in the correct NASA/ECSS mission phase
- Distinguish verification from validation and say which review gates each
Syllabus
Module 1
What is a satellite?
Definitions, the mass classification ladder, and the vocabulary the rest of the programme assumes.
Module 2
Systems engineering for a real mission
The V-model, the lifecycle phases, requirements, and the review gates — as applied to a student CubeSat rather than a flagship.
Assessment
Space systems fundamentals
Ten minutes. Every figure is drawn from the course material.
5 questions, graded once you are signed in.
Source material
Introduction to Space Systems_1.pdf (69 slides) and Student CubeSat Development.pdf (13 slides), KSA Training 2022, presented by Obed M — Sayarilabs.