Researchers at UWI, Mona have developed a satellite which they hope to use as a model for the Caribbean’s first functional home-grown satellite, capable of being launched in space. The type of satellite is known as a CUBESAT, usually built to carry out space research.

It was built by researchers of the Department of Physics under the Programme to Enhance and Apply our Knowledge of Space (PEAKS). 

Lead researcher Dr. Louis-Ray Harris said the prototype is already capable of carrying out several functions performed by satellites in space.

“How we designed it is such that it can remotely detect certain information about nearby objects, for instance it can take imagery. It has solar panels that have been configured to power its operation and it can also work with battery,” Dr. Harris explained.

He said the satellite will be outfitted with telemetry data that could give information about the performance of on-board systems at different points in space.

However a possible launch may take years as many improvements, funding and partnerships would be needed before that can be considered.

“To send it into space there are some things we would need to change. The type of sensors we have for example, we would need to replace with sensors that have added features. This is also the first of different prototypes and we are hoping to build on it as well as begin working on another one,” Dr. Harris said.

He and his team of students from the department of Physics believe the Caribbean should join developing countries like Nigeria, Ghana and India that have entered the space race by launching their own satellites into space.

 Dr. Harris said he hopes his new satellite will yield an increased interest in space and satellite technology among students at all levels adding that Caribbean societies rely on satellites for critical services such as telecommunications, tracking weather events and coordinating relief efforts during natural disasters or conflict.

The CUBESAT will be one of the research projects featured at the UWI Mona’s Research Days which will be held from February 7-9 .

Lead Researcher: Dr. Louis-Ray Harris

Lecturer, Department of Physics

Landline: 927-2480, Mobile: 278-7894

Email: louisray.harris@uwimona.edu.jm