About

An artificial satellite is an object that has been put into orbit around the Earth or other solar system body, such as the Moon. Most Earth satellites are launched from rockets into low Earth orbits, the International Space Station is one such example. Some satellites, such as for navigation systems like GPS, are launched into medium Earth orbits. Other satellites, such as for communications systems, observe the earth from geosynchronous Earth orbits. Satellites in low Earth orbit are used for beneficial purposes like observing the Earth, using cameras and sensors to monitor the weather, vegetation, the oceans, pollution, and so forth. With a clear line-of-sight of the Earth's surface, satellites can receive and transmit radio signals for communication and navigation. Satellites like the Hubble Space Telescope are critical for scientific exploration because they get a clear view of the heavens above the atmosphere of the Earth.
 

Your task

Design a satellite for low Earth orbit. You should decide what purpose your satellite will fulfil, and what instruments and equipment it will contain. Your satellite ought to fulfil a useful or beneficial purpose, without endangering humanity or risking life on earth. Consider how your satellite will be launched, deployed and what will happen at its end of life. Build a full-size or a small-scale model to demonstrate your satellite, along with a specifications sheet that describes your satellite and its instruments in detail. Work on this project in a team with a group of your classmates.
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The design thinking stages

Follow the five design thinking stages to ensure that you think of everything and do everything necessary in order to succeed in your design project. First, you must UNDERSTAND the design topic and the needs of the users. With that understanding, you can DECIDE what is important to your design solution and what is not so important. Then you CREATE to come up with ideas and improve them. Then you BUILD your chosen design idea in a physical form and improve it through trial-and-error. Finally, you TEST your built design idea to get the opinions of users. ​​​​​​​Use the methods from the Design Thinking for Schools website as you follow the design thinking stages.
 

Note for teachers

​​​​​​​Read the guide for teachers on Safety for the BUILD Stage for Level III to safely supervise this design project.