Embedded Files
UKSEDS (UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) is the UK’s national student space society. Founded in 1988, it brings together students from across the country who are passionate about space. UKSEDS runs outreach events, workshops, and competitions to inspire, train, and connect the next generation of space professionals.
These are the competitions they run, annually:
Satellite Design Competition (This is the one you’ll take part in as a SunSat member)
National Rocketry Championship
Olympus Rover Trials
In‑Orbit Servicing & Manufacturing Competition
Mach‑23 Launch & CanSat Competition
Why it matters for SunSat
Why it matters for SunSat
The UKSEDS Satellite Design Competition (SDC) is SunSat’s beginner-level competition project. It’s the perfect entry point for new members who want to get hands-on experience in space engineering while working within a national competition. Student teams will design, build, and test CubeSat payloads under real engineering standards and constraints.
The competition gives future engineers the chance to:
Tackle complex engineering tasks that meet realistic mission requirements.
Navigate professional design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) just like in industry.
Design, build, and test CubeSats in a final “mystery room” mission simulation.
Develop transferable skills in teamwork, leadership, project management, and documentation.
Gain exposure to industry mentors and careers, with support to encourage diverse participation.
What Our Beginners Work On
What Our Beginners Work On
Over a typical 9-month cycle, beginner SunSat teams work through structured phases:
Concept & Requirements: define the mission and system-level requirements.
Design Reviews: present and defend designs at Preliminary (PDR) and Critical (CDR) stages.
Build & Test: prototype and refine their CubeSat before the Test Readiness Review (TRR).
Competition Day: face real-world scenarios in a mystery room challenge, from system checks to science experiments.
Documentation: prepare professional reports and presentations throughout the process.
Competition Stages
Competition Stages
Previous Missions
The competition challenged students to design a CubeSat for RPO, demonstrating detumbling, tracking, alignment etc. in a simulated orbital environment.
The competition challenged students to design a 3U CubeSat for Earth observation, focused on wildfire detection by measuring temperature variations and tracking heat signatures.
Report abuse