3.4.3 A Comparative Analysis of Project Management and Systems Engineering Techniques in CubeSat Projects

Abstract

Abstract. In the year 2000, California Polytechnic State University and Stanford University issued a new standard for small satellites: The CubeSat standard. This standard allowed universities to design, build, test and operate affordable, small, satellites within a time span of two to three years. Both Delft University of Technology (DUT) and Aalborg University (AAU) have used the CubeSat standard to develop a student satellite. In Delft, the Delfi-C 3 and in Aalborg AAUSAT-II satellites were developed. This paper evaluates the different techniques that are used in the Project Management and Systems Engineering of CubeSats. The satellite projects of DUT and AAU, which are highly different in setup, will be used as reference points for this evaluation. AAU has a strong pragmatic approach, while DUT uses a structured industrial standard approach.