The Satellite Quick Research Testbed (SQUIRT) Program

Stanford University's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics has commenced full scale development of a new micro satellite initiative. Known as the Satellite Quick Research Testbed (SQUIRT) program, the project's goal is to produce student engineered satellites capable of servicing state-of-the-art research payloads on a yearly basis. This program is specifically designed to meet the education and research goals of the department's Satellite Systems Development Laboratory. The first spacecraft in the SQUIRT series is the Stanford Audio Phonic Photographic Infrared Experiment (SAPPHIRE). The payloads for this mission include an experimental infrared (IR) sensor, a digital camera, and a voice synthesizer. The bus consists of a 25 pound, 9 inch tall, 16 inch diameter hexagonal structure with complete processor, communications, power, thermal, and attitude control subsystems. Through student participation, voluntary mentoring from the academic and industrial communities, and the extensive use of off-the-shelf components, the cash outlay target for SQUIRT class vehicles is $50,000. This paper discusses the educational and research issues surrounding the development of Stanford's spacecraft design curriculum, the formulation of the SQUIRT program, and the progress of the current SAPPHIRE vehicle. Additionally, future payload concepts are outlined, and program expansion plans involving international academic partners are described.