Human and technological capacity building through the Sharjah-Sat-1 CubeSat project

Sharjah-Sat-1 is 3U+ CubeSat, carrying a primary payload consisting of an X-ray detector to study bright X-ray sources in our Galaxy and a dual camera system as a secondary, remote-sensing application payload. It is the first small satellite mission of the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST) and the University of Sharjah (UoS), developed in close collaboration with Istanbul Technical University Space Systems Design and Test Laboratory (ITU-SSDTL) and Sabanci University (SU). Small satellites, especially CubeSat standard, have greatly interested universities and educational establishments due to their lower costs and shorter development time. This makes them ideal for engaging students in the design, testing, and operation of satellite missions and offers a unique first-hand experience in the space industry. The Sharjah-Sat-1 project has provided an essential basis for theoretical and hands-on knowledge of space technologies. This included various extensive workshops for the team of undergraduate students involved and public outreach programs on the topics of satellites and space systems. Additionally, the project has created a solid infrastructure at the Academy to develop further CubeSat missions in the future. Throughout the mission duration, the CubeSat laboratory at SAASST has been expanding and building the necessary facilities that are vital for its success. This includes the high-performance Workstation loaded with the required software to design, simulate and analyze the mission in the space environment, the cleanroom (ISO6 certified) to integrate and test the satellite subsystems, and the ground station (VHF/UHF) needed to communicate with CubeSat once it is in orbit. Furthermore, the participating students have been trained on how to use the software and the operation of the ground station in the scope of the Sharjah-Sat-1 mission. Ultimately, the human and technological capacities the project has built and all experience gained will certainly be transferred to future projects.