Build a satellite and take your classroom out of this world with the Aldrin Family Foundation S-Cubed program!

The S-Cubed program is a 2-year STEM program that immerses high school students in the science and engineering of a satellite spacecraft. Students will learn the following skills and expertise: Engineering systems and processes of a satellite, lead a simulated space mission, and engage in the engineering design process to build a satellite ready for qualification testing. This program is intended for a high school student but can be adapted for middle school.

Student-Designed Satellites

A CubeSat is a class of miniature satellites (a.k.a. nanosatellites) that have a standardized size and weight – usually 100mm x 100mm x 100mm and weighing 1.333kg. Their unique cube-like structure allows them to be single units or stacked on top of each other. Even better, they can be designed and built using commercial off-the-shelf parts, and launch opportunities are easy to find. All these factors make CubeSats a perfect means for giving schools and universities cost-effective and easy access to space.

Schools launching CubeSats isn’t new, but they’re often done as one-off projects. A critical piece of the puzzle has been missing … until now.

Coupling CubeSats with Curriculum

For most people, space has traditionally been about observation – watching impacts and successes of others from afar. But, through AFF’s S-Cubed Program, we’re putting students into the driver’s seat and injecting space directly into the high school classroom. The S-Cubed Program content ties in with multiple areas of study that can be used across a wide range of classes, all while perfectly aligning to state and national standards.