Systems Engineering Challenges and Strategies in a Student Satellite Design Team: HERON – A Case Study

The University of Toronto Aerospace Team Space Systems Division (UTAT-SS) is currently developing the world’s first fully student-funded research satellite set to launch in mid-2020. The nature of this project presents several challenges to the systems engineering activities such as limited systems engineering background of the undergraduate student members, inconsistent membership and resource availability, and tight timelines and budgets. The team has developed strategies to execute systems engineering activities that are critical for the complex satellite design which involve decentralization of systems engineering responsibilities, creating systems models and using appropriate communication tools. These practices - and the resulting observations - which have served UTAT-SS in achieving the mission goals can be applied to other student design teams, industry projects, and complex research initiatives.