My Summer with the Purdue Space Program

This past summer, I had the exciting opportunity to work remotely with the Purdue Space Program's Satellites - Command and Data Handling team. My focus was on the command and data handling systems for CubeSat satellites, specifically the On-Board Computer (OBC) and flight software components. Working alongside an interdisciplinary team, we conducted research and trade studies on various processors for the OBC, considering essential factors like power consumption, communications interfaces, weight, and processing power.

My work involved gathering and analyzing flight history and test data on ten different processors, evaluating each against the project’s stringent requirements. To streamline the selection process, I developed a decision matrix to weigh each processor's attributes systematically. Ultimately, this led us to a choice that would best meet our CubeSat’s operational needs.

This experience not only strengthened my understanding of satellite systems but also highlighted the level of detail and precision needed to optimize hardware for space applications. It was a rewarding summer of applying engineering concepts to real-world space technology challenges.