The Western Skylark
A 3U CubeSat for next-generation tracking of migratory wildlife using the Motus telemetry system.
About Us:
The Western Skylark CubeSat enhances wildlife tracking by collecting space-based data on migratory songbirds, waterbirds, and shorebirds. We provide hands-on training for students in CubeSat construction and operation. Our project contributes to a better understanding of animal movements and supports conservation efforts.
The Skylark CubeSat project also promotes student involvement in the amateur radio community; Skylark will carry an AX.25 telemetry data beacon that can be received by other ameteur radio users.
- MOTUS is a student-developed amateur radio hardware, and our mission will demonstrate the effectiveness of MOTUS technology, extend the MOTUS network, and show the efficiency of a 3U CubeSat in collecting and relaying MOTUS data with speed and precision.
- Any students who are interested in learning more about amateur radio operation or obtaining their Amateur Radio Operator Certificate can contact the London Amateur Radio Club at https://larc.ca/.
- Mission specifications: https://github.com/Western-Skylark/Amateur-radio
Our Mission:
- Training Objective: Empower undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on experience in space mission operations, CubeSat design, and construction.
- Technical Objective: Demonstrate the effectiveness of a 3U CubeSat in efficiently collecting and relaying MOTUS data with speed and precision.
- Scientific Objective: Gather groundbreaking data on migratory songbirds, waterbirds, and shorebirds through remote tracking stations, enhancing our understanding of their migration behavior.
- Outreach Objective: Engage with local outreach groups incuding such as poster presentations, collaboration with London Amateur Radio Club, public talks at the Cronyn Observatory, a booth during the Western Science Rendezvous, teaching high school students about CubeSats at Western Engineering Summer Academy, and volunteering at the Girls in Aviation event.
Radio Communication Parameters:
- Radio communciation parameters are in the determination phase and will be announced in early 2025.
Video:Skylark promotional video created by Western Space
