Project Stratosphere: Sustainable 1U CubeSat Design
Explore the design and simulation of a low-cost 1U CubeSat for ozone layer and atmospheric monitoring, developed by students at Gower College Swansea.
EESW PROJECT REPORT · 2025–2026 · GOWER COLLEGE SWANSEA
PROJECT
STRATOSPHERE
Design & Simulation of a Sustainable CubeSat
for Ozone Layer & Atmospheric Monitoring
1U CUBESAT
10×10×10 CM
ALT: 10–20 KM
Gower College Swansea × University of South Wales
L. Whitefoot · M. Hossain · M. Li · O. Roshchupkina · R. Haque · O. Lesiak
MISSION CLASS: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
BUDGET: £200
LAUNCH VEHICLE: HIGH-ALTITUDE BALLOON
STATUS: DESIGN PHASE
MISSION BRIEF · INDEX
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Mission Overview & Key Highlights
INTRODUCTION
Gower College & University of South Wales
THE TEAM
Roles & Student Profiles
RESEARCH & PROBLEM ANALYSIS
Mission Concepts & Selection
MISSION DEFINITION
Aims, Objectives & Requirements
SYSTEM DESIGN
Electronics, Sensors & Structure
BUDGET & PROCEDURE
Cost Planning & Task Management
EVALUATION & RECOMMENDATIONS
Results & Future Work
MISSION CLASS: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
BUDGET: £200
LAUNCH VEHICLE: HIGH-ALTITUDE BALLOON
STATUS: DESIGN PHASE
01 · EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PROJECT STRATOSPHERE
MISSION OVERVIEW
Students at Gower College Swansea designed and simulated a functional 1U CubeSat prototype targeting ozone layer and atmospheric monitoring above Wales — cost-effective and sustainable, within a strict £200 budget.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
DFRobot Gravity Ozone Sensor · 0–10 ppm range · 10 ppb resolution
INTEGRATED ELECTRONICS
Seeeduino Lotus Cortex-M0+ · Grove plug-and-play connectors · Arduino compatible
THERMAL PROTECTION
EPP foam insulation · Mylar blanket · Chemical heat packs · −50°C rated
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Aluminium 6061-T6 alloy · Kapton tape · Eco-friendly materials · NASA standard
FINAL COST: £88.30 ESTIMATED
BUDGET: £200.00
SAVINGS: ~30%
MISSION TYPE: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
02 · INTRODUCTION
THE BRIEF
The University of South Wales tasked students with designing, planning, and executing a full CubeSat mission — covering system design, electronics, communication, sustainability, risk assessment, and project management.
MISSION BRIEF · USW 2025–2026
"Students are required to produce ideas for a cube satellite design including requirements, capabilities, and cost considerations... By the end of the project, students will have developed a fully integrated CubeSat prototype."
GOWER COLLEGE SWANSEA
Swansea, Wales · Further Education
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES
Treforest, Cardiff, Newport · Project Partner
COMPANY ENGINEER: LESHAN UGGALLA
CONTACT TEACHER: VICTORIA JAMES
YEAR: 2025–2026
INSTITUTION: GOWER COLLEGE SWANSEA
03 · THE TEAM
PROJECT STRATOSPHERE
MISSION CREW
Gower College Swansea · 6 Engineers · 2025–2026
TEAM LEADER
Oleksandra Roshchupkina
Physics · Maths · Further Maths
Coordination, scheduling, project oversight
SENSORS & PAYLOAD ENGINEER
Mahiba Hossain
Chemistry · Physics · Maths · Further Maths
Ozone & UV sensor research & integration
ELECTRONICS & CODING ENGINEER
Rayan Haque
Electronics · Maths · Further Maths · Physics
Circuit design, Arduino coding, troubleshooting
STRUCTURE & DESIGN ENGINEER
Lewis Whitefoot
Chemistry · Physics · Maths · Further Maths
CAD modelling, materials selection, structural design
SUSTAINABILITY & RISK MANAGER
Miles Li
Chemistry · Physics · Maths · Computer Science
Risk assessment, environmental compliance
SYSTEMS & PAYLOAD ENGINEER
Oliwier Lesiak
Physics · Electronics · Maths
Tinkercad simulations, electronic design
TEAM SIZE: 6 ENGINEERS
DISCIPLINE: AEROSPACE / ELECTRONICS / MATERIALS
INSTITUTION: GOWER COLLEGE SWANSEA
ACADEMIC YEAR: 2025–2026
04 · RESEARCH & ANALYSIS
MISSION CONCEPT SELECTION
Eight mission concepts were evaluated against feasibility, scientific value, sustainability impact, budget compatibility, and complexity.
FINAL DECISION: Environmental Monitoring — Ozone Layer & Greenhouse Gas Research above Wales
MISSION FOCUS AREAS
Ozone concentration (0–10 ppm) via DFRobot Gravity sensor
UV radiation levels via UV sensor
Temperature & pressure via Grove sensors
Altitude tracking via GPS + barometric formula
Humidity & greenhouse gas data
CONCEPTS EVALUATED: 8
SHORTLISTED: 3
FINAL SELECTION: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
BUDGET CEILING: £200
05 · MISSION DEFINITION
MISSION PARAMETERS
MISSION AIM
To design, simulate, and plan a low-cost high-altitude CubeSat payload capable of gathering atmospheric data to support future research into the effect of greenhouse gases on the ozone layer above Wales.
ALTITUDE: 10–20 KM
TEMP: −40°C TO −50°C
BUDGET: £200 MAX
CORE OBJECTIVES
Design sensing payload within £200
Select ozone, UV, temp, pressure sensors
Simulate electronics via Tinkercad
Calculate power consumption & battery life
Design lightweight thermally insulated structure
Conduct full risk assessment & feasibility study
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
FUNCTIONAL:
Integrate ozone, UV, temp & pressure sensors
POWER:
Operate for 1.5–3 hours continuous flight
ENVIRONMENTAL:
Withstand −50°C & low pressure at altitude
SIZE & MASS:
10×10×10 cm · max 1–3 kg
DATA:
Onboard SD storage + theoretical comms plan
FORMAT: 1U CUBESAT · 10×10×10 CM | MASS LIMIT: 1–3 KG | FLIGHT DURATION: 1.5–3 HRS | DATA STORAGE: SD CARD MODULE
06 · SYSTEM DESIGN
ELECTRONICS & SENSOR SUITE
MICROCONTROLLER
Seeeduino Lotus Cortex-M0+
12 Grove connectors · ATSAMD21 · LiPo compatible · Arduino Uno pins
48 MHz
PRIMARY SENSOR
DFRobot Gravity Ozone Sensor
0–10 ppm range · 10 ppb resolution · Electrochemical · IIC protocol
~£43
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSORS
Grove AHT20 Temp/Humidity · Grove SPA06-003 Barometer
Industrial grade · −40°C rated · I²C interface · Altitude via barometric formula
I²C
POSITIONING
Grove GPS Air530 Module
High-altitude mode · 50,000 m ceiling · No COCOM limit · Coordinates + altitude
50 km MAX
POWER SYSTEM
RS PRO 3.7V LiPo Battery · 2 Ah
Cold-rated · Chemical heat pack thermal management · Kapton tape secured
3.7V / 2Ah
MICROCONTROLLER: SEEEDUINO LOTUS M0+ | SENSORS: OZONE · GPS · TEMP/HUM · PRESSURE | PROTOCOL: I²C / GROVE | POWER: 3.7V LIPO 2AH
06 · SYSTEM DESIGN
STRUCTURAL & THERMAL DESIGN
PHYSICAL STRUCTURE
1U CUBESAT FORMAT
10 × 10 × 10 cm · Mass: 1–3 kg · Balloon-deployable. Initial layout structurally modelled in TinkerCAD.
ALUMINIUM ALLOY FRAME
Al 6061-T6 & 7075 · High strength-to-weight ratio · Corrosion resistant · NASA standard material · Lightweight & affordable
3D PRINTED STRUCTURE
Initial frame designed in TinkerCAD · Modular internal layout · Component placement optimised for 1U space constraints
THERMAL MANAGEMENT
EPP Foam
low thermal conductivity, conduction barrier
Mylar Blanket
reflects infrared radiation (MLI mimic)
Chemical Heat Packs
exothermic reaction, active warming for battery & GPS
EXTERNAL TEMP:
−40°C TO −50°C
TARGET INTERNAL TEMP:
>0°C
INSULATION:
EPP FOAM + MYLAR
ACTIVE HEATING:
CHEMICAL PACKS
STRUCTURE: ALUMINIUM 6061-T6 · 10×10×10 CM
INSULATION: EPP FOAM + MYLAR
THERMAL RANGE: −50°C EXTERNAL
SEALING: KAPTON TAPE
07 · BUDGET PLANNING
COST ANALYSIS
FINAL COMPONENT BUDGET
COMPONENT
SPECIFICATION
SUPPLIER
COST
Ozone Sensor
DFRobot Gravity IIC 0–10ppm
Farnell UK
£43.08
LiPo Battery
RS PRO 3.7V 2Ah
RS Components
£22.10
GPS Module
Grove Air530
DigiKey
£11.77
Seeeduino Board
Lotus Cortex-M0+
DigiKey
£7.97
Temp/Humidity Sensor
Grove AHT20 I²C
Seeed Studio
£3.38
Air Pressure Sensor
Grove SPA06-003
Seeed Studio
£0.00
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST
£88.30
BUDGET REMAINING:
£111.70
(55.85% of total budget)
TOTAL BUDGET: £200
SPENT: £88.30
SAVED: ~30%
COST-BENEFIT: HIGH VALUE SCIENTIFIC RETURN AT MINIMAL SPEND
BUDGET CEILING: £200.00
ESTIMATED SPEND: £88.30
SAVINGS: £111.70
VALUE: HIGH SCIENTIFIC RETURN · LOW COST
08 · EVALUATION & RECOMMENDATIONS
RESULTS & FUTURE WORK
EVALUATION
Final 10cm³ CubeSat built around Seeeduino Lotus microcontroller. Dual-layer EPP foam + Mylar protection. Designed to capture data at 10–20 km, mapping ozone density (2–8 ppm) against altitude using the Barometric Formula.
Plug-and-play Grove system eliminates soldering failure risk
Active thermal strategy protects LiPo battery
Scientific mission within strict £200 budget
Final estimated cost: £88.30 (30% under budget)
No real-time telemetry — relies on SD card recovery
Future: LoRa radio module for live data transmission
Future: CO₂ / CH₄ sensor integration
Future: Custom 3D-printed internal chassis
RECOMMENDATIONS
IMAGING SYSTEMS
Integrate HD camera for visual altitude verification in future iterations
ADVANCED TELEMETRY
LoRa radio for real-time ground station monitoring
EXPANDED GAS SENSING
Add CO₂ / Methane (CH₄) sensors for comprehensive greenhouse gas study
STRUCTURAL OPTIMISATION
Custom 3D-printed chassis for mass reduction and component optimisation
FINAL COST: £88.30
BUDGET SAVING: 30%
SCIENTIFIC RETURN: HIGH
STAGE: DESIGN & SIMULATION COMPLETE
PROJECT STRATOSPHERE · 2025–2026 · EESW REPORT
THANK YOU
Design & Simulation of a Sustainable CubeSat
for Ozone Layer & Atmospheric Monitoring above Wales
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
University of South Wales — Engineering Support & Mentorship
Victoria James — Contact Teacher, Gower College Swansea
EESW STEM Cymru — Project Opportunity & Organisation
L. Whitefoot · M. Hossain · M. Li · O. Roshchupkina · R. Haque · O. Lesiak
ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING
£88.30 / £200
DESIGN COMPLETE
GOWER COLLEGE SWANSEA × UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES
EESW STEM CYMRU
PROJECT STRATOSPHERE 2025–2026
- cubesat
- aerospace-engineering
- atmospheric-monitoring
- stem-project
- environmental-science
- satellite-design
- arduino