Harvard Satellite Team

Mechanical leads the structural design and integration of the satellite, including the chassis, deployment mechanisms, and thermal considerations. The team ensures all components survive launch loads and the space environment while remaining lightweight, modular, and manufacturable. 

Computing develops the satellite’s onboard software and data handling systems. The team focuses on flight software, autonomy, and reliable communication between subsystems, ensuring robust operation throughout the mission lifecycle. 

 Electrical designs and integrates the satellite’s power and electronics systems, including power distribution, avionics, and board-level hardware. The team ensures electrical reliability, efficiency, and fault tolerance in a constrained space environment. 

 Ground Station develops the systems that communicate with and operate the satellite from Earth. The team designs command, control, and data downlink infrastructure, enabling real-time monitoring, mission planning, and post-launch operations. 

 Payload is responsible for the mission-specific instrumentation and experiments carried aboard the satellite. The team defines mission objectives, designs payload hardware and software, and ensures meaningful data collection once on orbit.