EduSAT: An Italian space agency outreach program

In the 2005, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) proposed a program to launch in orbit an educational satellite named EduSAT, with the main goal to promote space education among high school students and to support scientific careers of PhD and university students. Two years later, the EduSAT project started under the ASI coordination and funding. The EduSAT design, manufacturing, launch and operation in orbit has been committed to the Group of Astrodynamics of the "Sapienza" University of Roma (GAUSS), on the basis of this previous experience, the UNISAT program (University Satellite). In the framework of this Italian university program, four student-built satellites have been launched, respectively in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006, from Baykonour Cosmodrome, with DNEPR Space Launch System. The educational activity involving high school students has been committed to IMT srl with the contribution of the University of Roma TorVergata. High school students are provided with 2 satellite models, Basic Satellite Training (DTB) and Advanced Satellite Training (DTS), that form the basis for teaching. Students are also involved in the development of a small payload which will be hosted on board EduSAT. The selected payload is a sun sensor. The EduSAT microsatellite is scheduled to be launched in April 2010 with DNEPR launch vehicle. This paper deals with a project overview, satellite architecture and main subsystems description, high school students payload and educational program organization.