Aiglon CubeSat-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-16

Aiglon CubeSat-1 blasted into orbit as scheduled on 30 March. Our satellite was aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-16, a dedicated smallsat rideshare mission. On the same rocket were 118 other payloads including cubesats, microsats, hosted payloads, a reentry vehicle, and orbital transfer vehicles. 

Aiglon students are trailblazers in Europe to design, build, test and launch a school satellite. 

Aiglon CubeSat-1 is now moving at 27,000km/h in a Sun-synchronous orbit. The CubeSat will spend about a month commissioning - a process of stabilising its spinning motion using on-board magnets that interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. We have already had first contact showing that the radio antenna is functioning. Aiglon will have control of the experiments a month or so after it enters orbit. We will be able to heat the satellite and measure in thirteen on-board locations, how the temperature of the frame changes as it cools down. The aim is to simulate high power AI processors used in the next generation of CubeSats.

Other groups globally will be keen to share our findings. The power budgeting and solar panel recharge were key elements in the original plans and construction.

At the start of February the satellite was integrated with the launch provider in Vandenberg, California. Bertie worked around the clock for 72 hours or so to fix the satellite code in the time before integration. His work with engineers at NSL was incredible to watch. Tense scenes with Bertie ice-cool under pressure. He even managed to conduct remote heating experiments in a lab 7,000 km away - the results of which will eventually be compared to data gathered in microgravity and the vacuum of space.

Sixteen students, aged 14 to 18, are at the heart of the CubeSat project, which began in January 2024. From ideation, to design, prototyping, project management and marketing, this is a 100% student-led project.  The students were able to Do More, Faster because of the philanthropic leadership of Mikael Wiren and Alexandra Klim-Wiren, and the support of the Lu family, the Makhkamov family and one other family.

What is next for the Aiglon team?
The Aiglon team has been writing five separate academic papers on various aspects of CubeSat-1. The abstracts have been submitted to the IAC (International Astronautical Congress). After review from the professors, the call for full papers will come at the end of April. The IAC 2026 conference is in Antalya in October. The principal students involved were Jennifer (Year 13), Kami (Year 12), Brian (Year 11), Bertie (Year 13), Tsheyang (Year 12), Kameron (Year 11), Betty (Year 11), Muiza (Year 10), Natasha (Year 12) and Miya (Year 10). 

Orlando SciTech Conference
Kami  has already had a research paper published in an international journal. He presented his research on stage at the prestigious SciTech conference in Orlando in January. His paper is titled "Impact of Mountainous Terrain on Satellite RF Propagation: Field Measurements with an Iridium L-Band Terminal in the Swiss Alps". He measured diffraction from a ridge at Saas-Fee in his published work. The professionals were impressed by his publication, generating some crucial space industry contacts.

Future plans
Last summer we launched a High Altitude Balloon (HAB) in the prototyping stages of Aiglon CubeSat-1. Our findings were used to help design our satellite. We may launch a second HAB in the future to make new measurements in the stratosphere. At present, in the lab, the group is eagerly coding BBC Micro:bits with various custom add-on sensors. Our new endeavours mirror some of the work done by the group with NSL (Near Space Launch) in Indiana. Whether it’s the edge of space via balloon or 500 km above Earth via rocket, the Aiglon space programme continues to reach new heights.

Watch the launch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dreQumHRroA.