Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31772: Mini Satellites, Big Safety: CubeSats with ADS-B to Transform Aviation

What if a tiny satellite could help monitor airplane traffic from space? That’s the goal of the project titled Systems Engineering Training Education Integrating ADS-B Receiver onto CubeSat to Promote Aviation Safety, led by Dr. Wen-Chi Lu from National Formosa University. This ambitious project combines student training, aerospace engineering, and aviation safety—all aboard a CubeSat.

ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast) is a key technology in modern air traffic control. It allows aircraft to broadcast their position, speed, and altitude. On Earth, ADS-B receivers help air traffic controllers monitor planes in real time. But what if we could extend this tracking into space?

By integrating an ADS-B receiver onto a CubeSat, this experiment explores the feasibility of monitoring air traffic from low Earth orbit. During Expedition 68, the CubeSat collected signals from aircraft flying below. This data helps test how well orbital receivers can augment current tracking systems, especially over oceans and remote areas where ground-based coverage is limited.

This experiment is not only a step toward improving global aviation safety—it also provides hands-on systems engineering training for students. It’s an example of how educational initiatives can support high-impact technology development.

In the future, constellations of such satellites could offer a global safety net, detecting aircraft in real time, improving response to emergencies, and optimizing flight routes.

The skies—and space—are getting safer, one CubeSat at a time.

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