Overview of the ground facilities for controlling the OUFTI-1 nanosatellite and for routing its radio-communications through the worldwide D-STAR repeater network

Overview of the current state and upgrade plan of the OUFTI-1 nanosatellite ground segment. The OUFTI-1 project was initiated in September 2007. The OUFTI-1 nanosatellite is a one-unit (1U) CubeSat. Its main payload is - in essence - a D-STAR repeater in space, potentially the first one ever. D-STAR is an amateur-radio (“ham”), digital radio-communication protocol (with associated equipment) allowing the simultaneous transmission of voice and data, such as GPS coordinates and call-signs. The satellite was tested in 2014 and 2015 within the ESA’s Education Office Fly Your Satellite! (FYS) project, and it is now fully qualified and ready for launch and operation in space

OUFTI-1: the pioneering nanosatellite of the University of Liège - a long, challenging, and fascinating scientific, technical, and human experience

Fly Your Satellite! (FYS), from ES

Thermal-vacuum and vibration test campaigns that led to the OUFTI-1 nanosatellite being fully qualified by ESA for launch and operation in Earth orbit

OUFTI-1’s test campaigns were divided into two phases. The goal of Phase 1 is to demonstrate that the different functionalities of the satellite work as intended. The goal of Phase 2 is to subsequently demonstrate that the satellite can withstand the launch into orbit, and then work properly in the conditions of space. The corresponding tests thus involve both thermal-vacuum environmental tests (in appropriate test chambers) and vibration tests (on appropriate vibration pods). The conditions simulated during these tests are as close as possible to those that the satellite will encounter during its mission, covering as many cases as possible, amid uncertainties, since neither the launcher nor the orbit were known prior to the tests. Both phases involve the flight model (FM), in accordance with the so-called "protoflight" approach

Architecture of educational OUFTI-1 nanosatellite of University of Liège, as tested in preparation for space flight

Overview of the OUFTI-1 nanosatellite space segment. The OUFTI-1 project was initiated in September 2007. The nanosatellite is a one-unit (1U) CubeSat. Its main payload is - in essence - a D-STAR repeater in space, potentially the first one ever. D-STAR is an amateur-radio (“ham”), digital radio communication - protocol (with associated equipment) allowing the simultaneous transmission of voice and data, such as GPS coordinates and call-signs