Applying DiskSat Concept to Small Satellite Education Programs

With the CubeSat revolution in recent years, many educational institutions around the world have been able to introduce hands-on components for space systems and technology education. While CubeSats have become an integral part of the space technology education programs throughout the country, including middle and high schools, CubeSat's stacked configuration and inherent design constraints still pose challenges, particularly in terms of power capacity, volumetric, and structural limitations. These challenges often act as an extra layer of difficulties in student satellite programs that are already making do with limited resources both in terms of money and man-power. The DiskSat, a novel form factor satellite-on-a-disk, developed by the Aerospace Corporation, presents a promising alternative for educational programs. DiskSats are satellites in a circular disk form factor of 1 m in diameter and 2.5 cm in thickness. The first iterations of DiskSat demo missions were optimized for high power generation and efficient propulsion. Unlike CubeSats, DiskSats can offer more electrical power without requiring a deployable solar panel, while maintaining a lower mass. Additionally, the design simplifies thermal management and reduces atmospheric drag, making them suitable for operations in very low Earth orbits (VLEO) where shorter-term operation and being closer to the surface offers many benefits to student-operated missions. These attributes, along with the streamlined manufacturing process and potential for rapid re-entry upon mission completion, make DiskSats an attractive platform for university-level satellite projects, potentially easing the steep learning curve associated with CubeSat development while providing enhanced performance and educational value. This paper outlines key features of DiskSats from the perspective of a university student adaptation, discusses advantages and disadvantages of DiskSats as a student learning tool, and describes potential challenges in adapting the new form factor for student projects.