Sun Devil Satellite Laboratory (SDSL)

About

Sun Devil Satellite Laboratory is a student organization that designs, builds, and tests spacecraft technologies. SDSL is entirely student-led and hardware-focused (project-based), with projects that welcome students from all disciplines. Our projects include real satellites, NASA-funded ASCEND, participation in multiple NASA challenges, a K-12 program, and other spacecraft components.

Sun Devil Satellite Laboratory (SDSL) is a student-led organization that provides all students, regardless of experience level, with unique opportunities to work on spacecraft technologies.

In SDSL, students are in control of what they can achieve. We have a place for all engineering disciplines and, depending on the project, various other skillsets are needed. Students participate in the entire engineering process, from proposal until launch. Students are also exposed to following a schedule, adhering to a budget, collaborating & integrating with other subsystems and industry partners, writing technical reports, and developing design reviews that effectively demonstrate the work to industry professionals.

SDSL is a closely-knit community of like-minded individuals who all share a passion for engineering and space development. In order to maintain and expand this community, we host many social events that are either student-only or welcome industry professionals. Additionally, we host numerous technical workshops that let students learn valuable skills from more experienced members. Email us to learn more and get involved!

Current Projects

SquidSat – 3U modular open-source CubeSat bus to support cheap science missions. Carries two payloads from other ASU labs, one from an industry partner, and one designed in-house.

ASCEND – High-altitude weather balloon to test space hardware at 100,000 feet, funded by NASA Space Grant. This project occurs each semester.

Pulsed-Plasma Thruster – A method of electrical propulsion designed for extending CubeSat lifespans by maintaining an orbital altitude.

Upcoming 26-27 Projects: New satellite, CubeSat Attitude Determination and Control System, K-12 Program, and more NASA challenges. (Lots of people needed!)

Accomplishment

Launched Phoenix (3U): NASA Grant, Studied Urban Heat Island Effect.
Launched LightCube (1U): Educational outreach satellite to flash a very bright light given a radio communication sent by a user.
Launched DORA (3U): Low frequency cosmology mapping.
Launched Coconut (1U): Store-and-forward LoRa repeater easily accessible by low power hardware.
12+ Semesters of ASCEND Launches: High-altitude weather balloon (stratosphere), funded by NASA Space Grant.
NASA Orbit 2026: Sun Devil Orbital Systems reached top 20 as finalists, proposing a lunar satellite constellation for navigation and communication.
CanSat Competition 3rd, 5th Placement: National CubeSat building competition
Research for NASA Human Lander 2026: Research proposing a lunar regolith into oxygen conversion system.
Countless FURI & Space Grant projects completed.

Industry Partners