APRSAF 22nd, Nov 30 - Dec 4, 2015 - Bali, Indonesia - Abstract : SpaceBox STEP-1 - Thai CubeSat development program

Title : SpaceBox STEP-1 - Thai CubeSat development program

APRSAF 22nd, Bali, Indonesia    Nov  30 - Dec 4, 2015 

SpaceBox Laboratory

Abstract

CubeSat is a well-known, standardized miniature satellite with approximately 1 kg in weight and dimensions 10 x 10 x 10 cm.  Its operation is in Low Earth Orbit (LEO): 150 – 600 km from Earth. At present, it is considered a cost effective science and technology platform for promoting science education and supporting the development of innovative, advanced instruments. It additionally possesses a potential to make a contribution on a politically attractive and economically viable basis to the expansion of an emerging nation’s intellectual capital. Therefore, in the past few years, this type of Space program has attracted much attention from large number of developing nations.

In Thailand, even though the country has utilized Space in servicing the demands of its people for over half a century, the country’s attempts to transform itself from the consumer to the Space technology developer so far has yet to be materialised in large scale due to the high barrier to entry of the Space industry and the country’s needs to focus its strengths on other immediate challenges. As a consequence, it relinquishes the opportunity to compete with other nations in this big industry and other relevant areas. 

Nevertheless because of the fast development of the hi-tech industry and the emerging of the new launch opportunities specially tailored for small satellite, in the past decade, the total cost of the small satellite  development program has significantly decreased and it opens unprecedented doors-of-opportunities for the new comers to join the global Space club. 

SpaceBox Laboratory has thus been founded by a group of young Thai engineers and Space enthusiasts  with the ultimate goals to built nation’s capabilities for developing and utilising Space technology and to help creating a societal impact on the science and education communities to refocus their attention on Space technology. SpaceBox STEP-1, SpaceBox ’s CubeSat development program, is consequently formed. 

STEP-1 shall be designed and fabricated by Thai engineers with the helps from the SpaceBox’s academic partners. The know-how and experiences from this project shall be gathered and passed on to other Thai interested in following our footsteps in the near future.