Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #30721: EQUiSat: The Student-Built Satellite That Lit Up the Sky

What if your classroom project could launch into space and orbit the Earth? For a group of students at Brown University, that dream became reality with EQUiSat—a small satellite built entirely by undergraduates.

EQUiSat wasn’t your typical space mission. It was designed to be low-cost, educational, and accessible. Its main mission? Flash a high-intensity LED beacon that could be seen from Earth with the naked eye. Why? To inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists by showing them what’s possible with teamwork and passion.

Led by Principal Investigator Dr. Rick Fleeter, the Brown Space Engineering team designed, built, and tested EQUiSat over four years. It was part of Expedition 55/56 aboard the ISS and launched into orbit from there.

The satellite's name—EQUiSat—stands for “Equity in Satellite Engineering.” The idea was that space shouldn’t be limited to governments and big corporations. If students could build and launch a satellite for under $5,000, then anyone with enough motivation and creativity could reach the stars.

EQUiSat demonstrated how CubeSats (small cube-shaped satellites) can be powerful educational tools. These tiny spacecraft allow for real-world space engineering experience. EQUiSat transmitted data back to Earth, helped students learn radio communication, power systems, thermal management, and orbital mechanics.

But the real magic was in its visibility. The beacon pulsed bright light every two minutes, potentially visible from Earth. Watching that light pass overhead connected students on the ground to their creation in space—a rare and inspiring experience.

EQUiSat is more than just a satellite. It’s a beacon for educational access, hands-on learning, and student empowerment in space science.

Want to be part of the next satellite mission? You don’t need to be a rocket scientist—just start with curiosity and a good team.

Get certified with over 100 hours of immersive, self-paced learning in astronomy, cosmology, space technology, and climate science through the Agnirva Space Internship Program. Join, complete virtual projects, and earn a digital certificate to showcase your space fluency in interviews, resumes, and beyond.