Embedded Files
Mission 23/24: Wildfire Detection CubeSat
Mission 23/24: Wildfire Detection CubeSat
The competition tasked student teams with designing a 3U CubeSat for Earth observation, specifically aimed at wildfire detection. Teams were required to develop a CubeSat capable of measuring temperature variations in heat sources and tracking the movement of those heat signatures
Team Stella
Top 3 in the UK Nation
Top 3 in the UK Nation
A few thoughts from Shreya Stalin (2nd year MEng Aerospace Engineering Student) & Structures Engineer from STELLA...
Tell us about your favourite memory of the competition.
"My favourite memory of the competition would have to be either the competition day itself or the iForge sessions leading up to it. That week was particularly memorable because I learnt the most in such a short time, and it was the point where we actually saw our design come to life."
How did it feel being top 3 in the UK? And how did you celebrate afterwards?
"I was really happy that we achieved 3rd place overall, especially since most of us were first years and didn’t have the same level of experience as many of the other teams. Of course, we faced some challenges on the day due to a key component not arriving on time, which was a bit disheartening, but that’s all part of engineering and problem-solving. By the end we were absolutely knackered, I remember most of the team just heading back on the first train home, and we all watched a football match that was live at the time."
As of 24/25, she's the Operations Lead & Structures Engineer for AAS CanSat Competition!
Published: 17 August 2025
The structures team developed a lightweight, modular frame using aluminium beams and acrylic panels, reinforced with custom fittings. A hinged access door made integration simple, and early prototypes helped refine the final build. The design ensured durability while staying aligned with avionics needs.
Avionics acted as the brain of the CubeSat, managing data, communication, and control. A custom PCB brought all systems together, enabling the satellite to monitor its environment, transmit data to Ground Control, and perform reorientation tasks. The focus was on reliability and seamless integration with the structural design.
Team Firewatch
Best Innovation
Best Innovation
Words of wisdom from Ben Cornwell (3rd year MEng Mechanical Engineering Student) & Structures Engineer from FIREWATCH...
What do you think made your design 'Best Innovation'?
"I think what made our design stand out is the fact that we created a whole new way to access the avionics components. The main goal was to make building, manufacturing and maintaining the CubeSat easier so we were keen to make the design as simple as possible. We opted for 3D printing because the design could be easily iterated and customised - look for ways to make things simpler and more effective!"
Any advice for future UKSEDS teams competing for SunSat?
"My key bits of advice would be: Keep the design simple, remember you have to actually make it. Have weekly meetings where minutes are kept and progress is tracked: this can be both online and in-person, depending on the team's preference. Once you've decided on a design, order components early because the process can take a while... Manufacture earlier than you think (before exams season)!"
As of 24/25, he's a Structures Engineer for AAS CanSat Competition!
Published: 3 September 2025
Firewatch used a 2U CubeSat design that was compact, lightweight, and built from MakerBeam components with acrylic side panels. Inside, a 3D-printed insert provided shelves for avionics, with the reaction wheel at the base and the PCB above. Thermal insulation lined the acrylic panels to protect sensitive systems. The design balanced modularity with ease of assembly and integration.
The avionics system centred on a custom PCB designed in Altium, with the team splitting efforts between hardware and software. Their work enabled payload sensing, reaction wheel control, heat detection, orientation correction, and continuous data logging.
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