ALEASAT

ALEASAT is a 1U CubeSat (10×10×10 cm) being developed jointly by the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Satellite Design Team and the University of British Columbia (UBC) Orbit team as part of ESA’s Fly Your Satellite Test Opportunity programme. The mission objective is to provide low-cost Earth observation and disaster relief communications support — enabling licensed amateur radio operators to task the satellite to photograph any location on Earth, with potential humanitarian applications in disaster response coordination.

Designed and developed by approximately 100 engineering students from SFU and UBC over multiple years, ALEASAT features an optical payload (Earth observation camera), UHF/VHF amateur radio communication system, and an onboard computer for autonomous operation. The satellite is built to CubeSat standard with COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) components where space-rated parts are cost-prohibitive.

ALEASAT completed vibration qualification testing at ESA’s CubeSat Support Facility (CSEC) at Redu, Belgium in February 2024, validating the satellite’s structural design under launch load environments. Structural issues identified during testing prompted a redesign iteration. ESA’s Fly Your Satellite programme provides mentoring from professional ESA engineers, access to qualification facilities, and — for successful missions — a complimentary launch opportunity.

The mission represents one of the most ambitious student satellite programs in Canada, spanning mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and software development. ALEASAT is targeted for an ESA-arranged launch in 2026-2027 pending completion of the structural redesign and final qualification.