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New Project for 2025-26
New Project for 2025-26
Hosted by the UKSEDS
Hosted by the UKSEDS
United Kingdom Students for the Exploration and developments of space
United Kingdom Students for the Exploration and developments of space
The UKSEDS Satellite Design Competition (SDC) is an annual challenge for students and young professionals to tackle a complex, industry-relevant space mission by designing and building a CubeSat payload system.
Run by UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS), the competition is structured to closely mimic the project workflows, standards, and review processes found in the professional space industry.
Key Competition Details
Key Competition Details
The Challenge: Teams must design, construct, and operate a payload for a small satellite, typically a CubeSat, based on a specific, real-world space industry theme (e.g., Earth observation, space debris tracking).
Deliverables: The competition simulates the full space project lifecycle. Teams must submit formal documentation mirroring industry design milestones:
Preliminary Design Review (PDR)
Critical Design Review (CDR)
Test Readiness Review (TRR)
The Final Event: Finalist teams present their work and their prototypes are physically tested in a simulated environment that models the mission scenario (e.g., a "mystery room" challenging the payload's functionality).
Judging Criteria: Scoring is based on several factors, including:
Technical Documentation: Quality and adherence to professional standards in PDR/CDR submissions.
Innovation and Systems Engineering: Novelty of the design and robust system integration.
Prototype Performance: The successful operation of the built payload during the final simulated mission test.
Source: UKSEDS
Source: UKSEDS
Value for Students
Value for Students
The SDC exposes participants to the systems engineering, project management, and documentation standards required in the professional space sector. Through mentorships and partnerships with major space companies (like Airbus or Open Cosmos), it provides invaluable hands-on experience in developing space hardware and software, making it a crucial stepping stone for aspiring space engineers.
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