Projects
Texas A&M SEDS Solar Sail — CubeSat Mission
Texas A&M SEDS Solar Sail is the first student-led solar-sail CubeSat mission. During the team’s first semester, I served as the initial logistics team lead and led five people in mapping the logistical and design challenges of delivering a solar-sail CubeSat in a student environment.
Key Details
- Mission: First student-led solar-sail CubeSat
- Organisation: Texas A&M SEDS
- Phase: Team’s first semester
- Role: Initial logistics team lead
- Team: Five people
- Focus: Mapping logistical and design challenges for student mission delivery
- Date: Aug-Dec 2024
Overview
The Texas A&M SEDS Solar Sail project set out to create the first student-led solar-sail CubeSat mission. I joined during the team’s first semester, when the project was establishing the practical route from an early mission concept to a deliverable student spacecraft programme.
Mission Challenge
- Translate a solar-sail CubeSat concept into a student-led mission.
- Identify the logistical constraints affecting delivery.
- Map the design challenges that the wider team would need to resolve.
- Establish a workable foundation during the project’s first semester.
My Contribution
- Served as the initial logistics team lead.
- Led a five-person team.
- Mapped the logistical challenges of developing the mission in a student environment.
- Mapped the design challenges affecting the solar-sail CubeSat concept.
Student Mission Context
The work focused on the practical challenges unique to delivering a technically ambitious spacecraft within a student organisation. The logistics activity helped frame the constraints and design questions that the project needed to address as it moved forward.
Key Metrics
Mission Type
CubeSat
Student-led solar-sail spacecraft mission.
Team Led
5 people
Initial logistics team.
Project Phase
Semester 1
Joined during the team’s first semester.
Role
Team Lead
Initial logistics leadership.