COSMOS Interface and CSE 351

Husky Satellite Lab (HSL) builds satellites for space research, requiring communication systems to interface with satellites in orbit—which is where my project comes in.

This project embodies my “learning by doing” philosophy through practical application. Before joining research labs, I started with club involvement as an accessible entry point to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts. HSL became ideal for this hands-on approach.

To prepare for satellite communication’s low-level programming demands, I strategically took CSE 351 (Hardware/Software Interface), gaining foundational understanding of software-hardware interfaces essential for ground station systems that communicate with satellites in space.

I’m building and deploying a ground station system using COSMOS and OpenSatKit, enabling HSL to design graphical tools and interfaces for satellite equipment. This represents exactly the practical application that solidifies learning—actively building systems for real space missions rather than just studying theory. Working with COSMOS taught me advanced software systems used in professional spaceflight while developing cross-team communication skills.

This project served as a starting point in my research journey, showing how club participation provided practical foundation and confidence before transitioning to formal research labs. Building mission-critical systems while collaborating with interdisciplinary teams perfectly aligned with my goal of applying theoretical knowledge in research contexts with real-world impact.