‘Self-driving’ satellites poised to unlock space engineering potential

Credit: Cornell University

The Cornell Space Systems Design Studio is preparing to launch a pair of small, low-cost, modular satellites, known as CubeSats, into low Earth orbit, where they will drift apart by up to 30 kilometers and then, using custom software, locate each other’s position, fire their thrusters and dock together.

« ‘Self-driving’ satellites poised to unlock space engineering potential

Credit: Cornell University

The Pathfinder for Autonomous Navigation project's mechanical lead Millie Schwartz ’23 readies the CubeSats to be integrated onto the payload stack of a VOX Space rocket.

« ‘Self-driving’ satellites poised to unlock space engineering potential

Credit: Cornell University

Millie Schwartz ’23, Shihao Cao ’23 and Andreea Foarce ’22 examine one of their CubeSats at Virgin Orbit in Los Angeles.

« ‘Self-driving’ satellites poised to unlock space engineering potential

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