The Astghik Project empowers participants to design, build, and test miniature satellites—CanSats and CubeSats—that fly aboard model rockets and simulate real orbital missions. These small-scale spacecraft carry sensors, cameras, and instruments to collect flight data, perform scientific experiments, and test engineering concepts—all within a hands-on, classroom- or lab-friendly format.
Inspired by Astghik, the Armenian goddess of love, beauty, and the stars, this project celebrates curiosity, creativity, and the celestial wonder that drives exploration. Learners experience how precision design, data collection, and flight analysis transform curiosity into discovery.
By crafting and launching their own satellites, participants gain firsthand experience in aerospace engineering, data science, and systems integration, bridging the gap between imagination and the realities of space technology.
Objective
Design, build, and launch a CanSat or CubeSat aboard a model rocket to collect flight data, test sensors, and simulate satellite operations.
Supplies
- CanSat/CubeSat Kit: Modular frame, electronics bay, and recovery system components
- Sensors: Altimeter, barometer, accelerometer, temperature, and GPS (optional)
- Onboard Computer: Microcontroller or SBC for data logging and control (e.g., Arduino, Raspberry Pi)
- Telemetry System (optional): For real-time data transmission
- Rocket Launch System: Model rocket and recovery setup for payload deployment
- Ground Station: Laptop or dashboard for receiving and analyzing data
Steps to Explore
- Design your payload: Sketch and model a CanSat or CubeSat that fits within rocket payload constraints.
- Assemble and integrate sensors: Connect environmental and flight sensors to monitor altitude, temperature, motion, and orientation.
- Program your onboard computer: Write code to collect, store, or transmit data during flight.
- Prepare for launch: Secure your CanSat/CubeSat inside a rocket payload bay and conduct pre-launch checks.
- Launch and recover: Deploy your payload, track its flight, and safely recover it post-landing.
- Analyze results: Review collected data to understand flight dynamics and system performance.
- Refine your design: Improve instrumentation, software, and recovery systems for future launches.
Project Outcomes
- Learn the fundamentals of satellite systems, payload integration, and telemetry
- Understand how satellites collect and process data in real flight environments
- Gain experience in electronics, coding, and aerospace systems engineering
- Develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and mission-planning skills
- Experience the full cycle of design, test, launch, and analysis—just like a real space mission
Extensions
- Build multi-mission payloads combining environmental and imaging experiments
- Add real-time telemetry and video downlink for live mission data
- Simulate orbital scenarios such as attitude control, communication delays, or power management
- Collaborate with other teams to design constellations of CanSats or CubeSats that work together