SPUDNIK-1

As part of the Canadian CubeSat Project, fifteen universities across the country were granted the opportunity to develop a nano-satellite alongside the Canadian Space Agency and various industry partners. The SpudNik-1 team at UPEI's Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (FSDE) will design and develop a CubeSat-based imaging system for acquiring agricultural data. This design will be housed in a 2U CubeSat structure, meaning a rectangular prism that is 20cm x 10cm x 10cm. The imaging system will be capable of capturing high resolution soil and crop data in a non-destructive way. This will help farmers manage their use of pesticides and fertilizers, promoting environmental and economic sustainability. The sustainable use of inputs such as fertilizers based on crop needs will not only increase farm profitability input efficiency but also minimize the risks associated with climate change by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions they can cause.