Project Stratosphere: Sustainable CubeSat Design & Simulation
Learn about the design of a low-cost 1U CubeSat for ozone layer monitoring. Features sensor selection, electronics simulation, and budget management.
EESW STEM CYMRU · 2025–2026
PROJECT
STRATOSPHERE
Design & Simulation of a Sustainable CubeSat for Ozone Layer and Atmospheric Monitoring Research over Wales
Gower College Swansea · University of South Wales
Lewis Whitefoot
Mahiba Hossain
Miles Li
Oleksandra Roshchupkina
Rayan Haque
Oliwier Lesiak
01 / OVERVIEW
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Students at Gower College Swansea designed and simulated a functional, integrated 1U CubeSat prototype — cost-effective, sustainable, and scientifically rigorous — in response to a mission brief from the University of South Wales.
MISSION
Environmental monitoring — ozone layer & UV radiation research above Wales
BUDGET
£88.30 of £200 limit — 56% savings achieved
FORMAT
1U CubeSat · 10×10×10 cm · 1–3 kg · High-altitude balloon launch
MISSION AT A GLANCE
£88.30
Final Budget
10–20 km
Target Altitude
−50°C
Min. Temperature
2–8 ppm
Ozone Target Range
Ozone sensor (DFRobot Gravity, 0–10ppm)
Seeeduino Lotus Cortex M0+
EPP foam + Mylar thermal protection
LiPo battery cold-rated
Grove sensor ecosystem
02 / MISSION DEFINITION
PROJECT STRATOSPHERE
MISSION AIM & OBJECTIVES
To design, simulate, and plan a low-cost high-altitude CubeSat payload gathering atmospheric data to support research into greenhouse gas effects on the ozone layer above Wales.
MISSION OBJECTIVES
Design complete sensing payload within £200 budget
Select ozone, UV, temperature, pressure sensors
Simulate electronics in Tinkercad
Calculate power consumption for −50°C operation
Design lightweight thermally insulated 10×10×10cm structure
Conduct full risk assessment & feasibility study
KEY PARAMETERS
10–20 km
−40°C to −50°C
1U CubeSat (10×10×10 cm)
1–3 kg
£200
1.5–3 hours
Ozone Layer (15–35 km)
ENVIRONMENTALLY FOCUSED MISSION
03 / SYSTEM DESIGN
SENSORS & ELECTRONICS
PAYLOAD COMPONENTS
SEEEDUINO LOTUS CORTEX M0+
12 Grove connectors · Arduino-compatible pins · LiPo battery support · ATSAMD21 chip
BRAIN / CENTRAL HUB
DFROBOT GRAVITY IIC OZONE
Range: 0–10 ppm · Resolution: 10 ppb · Electrochemical · £43.08
PRIMARY SCIENCE INSTRUMENT
GROVE GPS (AIR530)
50,000m altitude mode · No COCOM limit · Dual altitude verification · £11.77
TRACKING & RECOVERY
GROVE AHT20 I2C
Industrial grade · −40°C rated · I2C interface · £3.38
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITOR
GROVE BAROMETER SPA06-003
Primary altitude calc · Barometric formula · In Grove kit · £0.00
ALTITUDE REFERENCE
LIPO BATTERY 3.7V 2Ah
Cold-rated · Chemical heat packs added · EPP foam insulated · £22.10
POWER SUBSYSTEM
COMPONENT TOTAL: £88.30 / £200 BUDGET
56% BUDGET REMAINING
- cubesat
- stem-education
- environmental-monitoring
- satellite-design
- arduino
- atmospheric-science
- aerospace-engineering