Mission Proxima Centauri - Centauri CubeSat UNAM

The 2U experimental CubeSat project was initiated by the Centauri CubeSat team from the School of Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), with the purpose of developing an educational and research-oriented satellite system that would serve as a technological foundation for future, more complex missions. Its main objective was to validate the team’s capability to design, integrate, and operate a data acquisition and transmission system under real flight conditions at an altitude of 3 kilometers.

The development of this CubeSat represented a significant evolution from previous projects, such as the CubeSat “Alpha Centauri,” as it incorporated a 1U modular design and engineering systems typical of an operational satellite, including power supply, thermal control, communications, mission management, structural design, and environmental sensing subsystems. Alpha Centauri was launched in Chihuahua in 2024.

During the design phase, various sensors were integrated to measure temperature, atmospheric pressure, altitude, acceleration, orientation, relative humidity, CO₂ concentration, and ultraviolet radiation, with the goal of characterizing the environmental conditions during ascent and descent. The electronic architecture was developed in-house, using low-power microcontrollers and LoRa transmission modules for communication with the ground station. This CubeSat is being developed for the 2025 ENMICE Annual Competition in Sayula, Jalisco, Mexico.

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The experimental launch is planned to be carried out using a controlled ascent platform, reaching an altitude of approximately 3 km, where real-time telemetry tests, sensor validation, and assessments of structural and thermal behavior will be conducted. This flight is expected to provide valuable data on system performance under different pressure and temperature conditions, contributing to the team’s technical learning and laying the groundwork for the development of future 3U CubeSats with greater autonomy and scientific capability.

The project strengthens Centauri CubeSat’s experience in university-level space system development, enhancing the technical and management skills of its members, and reaffirming the team’s commitment to the development of Mexican talent in the aerospace field.

We would like to thank PCBWay for their support in manufacturing our printed circuit boards for the Centauri 2U experimental CubeSat.

Their high-quality PCBs and professional service have been fundamental for the development and testing of our satellite’s electronic systems.

With their help, we continue advancing the presence of Mexican university projects in the aerospace field.