Case Study: University of Warwick achieves REXUS nanosatellite launch with SOLIDWORKS Education Edition

Developing a Nanosatellite With Solidworks Education Edition

The University of Warwick’s Warwick Satellite Team (WUSAT) needed to design and build a cube-shaped nanosatellite (0.1 m per side, <1.33 kg) with a spectroscopy payload for the ESA REXUS student rocket program. To develop the proposal and engineer the mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems to survive extreme flight conditions, the team relied on SolidWorks Education Edition as their primary 3D design and analysis platform.

Using SolidWorks, students modeled, performed linear static stress analysis, generated production-ready parts (3D printing and CNC), and prepared PDR documentation, enabling the team to win the REXUS selection and transition from a 30 km test flight (WUSAT1) to the flight-ready WUSAT2 slated for ~100 km. SolidWorks facilitated multidisciplinary collaboration, delivered a functioning spectroscopy payload for atmospheric sampling, and gave students measurable real-world engineering experience and a successful space launch outcome.

University of Warwick

Sam Tucker-Harvey

University of Warwick