Build a 1U CubeSat that acts as a store-and-forward relay for IoT sensor nodes on the ground. Collect data packets from remote environmental sensors and relay them to a central ground station on each orbital pass.
Build a 1U CubeSat that acts as a store-and-forward relay for IoT sensor nodes on the ground. Collect data packets from remote environmental sensors and relay them to a central ground station on each orbital pass.
This is a intermediate-level project with an estimated timeline of 12-18 months using a 1U form factor.
The Internet of Things is rapidly expanding into agriculture, environmental monitoring, disaster response, and logistics but terrestrial connectivity has gaps, especially in rural and remote areas. A satellite-based IoT relay solves this by collecting short data packets from low-power ground sensors as it passes overhead, storing them onboard, and forwarding them to a central ground station on the next available downlink window. This store-and-forward architecture mirrors exactly how commercial IoT satellite constellations operate, making it one of the most industry-relevant student projects available. The satellite listens on a designated frequency during each orbital pass, captures any packets transmitted by ground nodes within its footprint, timestamps and logs them, and queues them for downlink. On the ground side, students deploy a small network of sensor nodes weather stations, soil moisture probes, water level gauges that periodically wake up and transmit a short data burst. A secondary experiment characterizes the satellite-to-ground communication channel itself, measuring signal strength, noise levels, and frequency shift caused by orbital motion. The project naturally divides into RF hardware, embedded firmware, ground node design, and data pipeline teams.
Core component: Semtech SX1262 LoRa transceiver (~$5) with SPF5189Z LNA (~$10, 0.5 dB noise figure) and SAW bandpass filter on a custom PCB interfacing to PyCubed via SPI. Microstrip patch antenna on Earth-facing panel provides ~6 dBi gain at 868/915 MHz. PyCubed already includes an RFM9x LoRa radio with CircuitPython library support, making this the most platform-native payload. Deploy 5-10 ground nodes around campus (SX1262 + Arduino + antenna, ~$50/node). Operate in store-and-forward mode: satellite collects LoRa packets during overhead passes, stores in flash, downlinks via primary radio. Secondary experiment logs RSSI, SNR, and Doppler offset to characterize LEO-ground LoRa channel.
FOSSASAT-1, the first dedicated LoRa satellite, was an open-source PocketQube (5x5x5 cm) built by a high school student using an SX1278 + ATmega328P, launched December 2019. DISCO-1 (IT University of Copenhagen, 2023) used a PyCubed bus with LoRa. THAIIOT demonstrated LoRa relay over 2,000+ km. Link budget closes comfortably: at 550 km altitude with 14 dBm ground TX power and -148 dBm receiver sensitivity, margin is ~14 dB. LoRa chirp spread spectrum tolerates ±9 kHz Doppler shift at 868 MHz in LEO without correction. Total payload power under 1W receive; mass under 150 g. Cost: $300-$2,000. The IoT-from-space market is worth billions Lacuna Space, Swarm/SpaceX, and Fleet Space all operate LoRa or similar constellations. Complexity: low-to-medium. PyCubed CircuitPython library support makes integration straightforward.
This project spans 2 disciplines, making it suitable for interdisciplinary student teams.
Ready to take on this project? Here's a general roadmap that applies to most CubeSat missions:
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