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Can I create my own satellite?

Can you really create your own satellite?

Once the exclusive domain of national space agencies, satellite development is now within reach of universities, startups and even well-funded individuals. Advances in miniaturisation, commercial launch services and off-the-shelf components mean that “can I create my own satellite?” is no longer a fanciful question — it’s a real option. 

But turning an idea into an operational spacecraft is still a complex process involving engineering, regulatory approvals and reliable software. This article outlines the major steps and considerations. 

Defining your mission objectives 

Very successful small satellite project begins with clear objectives: 

  • What data or service will the satellite provide? 
  • Which orbit is required? 
  • How long should the mission last? 

Defining these parameters affects everything from satellite size to power budget to ground operations software. Without a clear mission profile, even the best engineering team can struggle. 

Selecting the right class of small satellite 

Most first-time operators start with nanosatellites or CubeSats because they’re cost-effective and quick to develop. A CubeSat is built from modular 10×10×10 cm “units” weighing about 1.3 kg each. Larger microsatellites (10–100 kg) and minisatellites (100–500 kg) support more complex payloads but cost more to launch and test(1). 

For a deeper look at classifications, see our companion article “What is considered a small satellite?”.

Hardware: off-the-shelf vs. custom 

Modern small satellite missions often use commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components for power, communications and attitude control. This speeds up development but requires careful integration and verification. Custom hardware offers higher performance but longer lead times. 

Typical subsystems you’ll need: 

  • Structure and thermal management 
  • Power (solar panels and batteries) 
  • On-board computer 
  • Communications 
  • Payload (camera, sensor, radio, etc.) 
  • Attitude determination and control 

Software: The often overlooked risk

Hardware gets the headlines, but software can make or break a mission. On-board flight software manages communications, power, payloads and fault detection. Ground software schedules passes, controls the spacecraft and manages data downlink. 

CubeSat missions in particular rely heavily on off-the-shelf hardware to achieve fast, low-cost, and reliable development, but creating equally universal (in other words – COTS) flight software is difficult because each mission has unique objectives. On the other hand, building fully custom software is slow and prohibitively expensive.

A modular, component-based software approach solves this problem by providing standardised, reusable building blocks that can be quickly tailored to different missions, making CubeSat software development much faster and simpler. Find out more how space software is becoming increasingly off-the-shelf, helping to reduce spacecraft development time.

Regulatory approvals and licensing

Even if you physically build your own satellite, you’ll still need: 

  • A launch agreement with a rocket provider. 
  • Frequency allocations from the ITU or your national regulator. 
  • Export control compliance (especially for U.S. components). 
  • Insurance and liability planning. 

Failure to secure these approvals can delay or cancel a mission. 

Integration and testing

Testing is where many first-time missions falter. Vibration, thermal vacuum and functional tests verify that subsystems will work together in space. Skipping or compressing this phase increases failure risk. According to published statistics, small satellite missions still have higher failure rates than larger spacecraft, although reliability is improving. See our blog on “Small satellite mission failure rates”. 

Launch options for small satellites

Ride-share launches on rockets such as SpaceX Falcon 9, Rocket Lab Electron or ISRO PSLV offer affordable access to orbit. Brokers can bundle multiple CubeSats into a single launch. For more control over orbital parameters, a dedicated small launch vehicle may be worth the premium. 

Building an operations plan

Launching a satellite is only the beginning. You’ll need ground stations, data management, command-and-control software and procedures for anomaly response. Many small satellite operators now outsource ground station services but retain control of mission operations software to keep flexibility and reduce cost. 

Our solutions are designed for exactly this scenario, enabling teams to scale from a single satellite to an entire constellation without rewriting their ground or flight software. Learn more about what makes our space software engineering approach exceptional. 

Cost and timeline considerations

A simple CubeSat might cost under £250,000 including launch, while a more capable microsatellite can exceed several million. Timelines range from 12–24 months for a well-managed project to 3–5 years for more complex missions(2). Using off-the-shelf hardware and modular, reusable software can significantly compress schedules. 

Achievable but demanding

So, can you create your own satellite? Yes — but success depends on disciplined engineering, thorough testing, compliance with regulations and reliable software infrastructure. By learning from the growing body of small satellite missions and leveraging commercial tools, aspiring space innovators can bring their own spacecraft ideas to life more affordably and reliably than ever before. 

Resources

1. NASA SSRI Knowledge Base (nasa.gov)
2. O’Donnell & Richardson 2020, NASA SSRI background (digitalcommons.usu.edu, nasa.gov)