"IBM's ENDURANCE CubeSat Mission: Leading the Democratization of Space Exploration"

As the IBM ENDURANCE CubeSat Mission marks its two-year milestone, it symbolizes a groundbreaking leap in humanity’s quest to make space exploration accessible to all. This mission, now etched into IBM’s legacy, is not merely a celebration of its accomplishments but a powerful testament to IBM’s leadership in breaking barriers and fostering a more inclusive and collaborative future in the realm of space exploration.

The Mission’s Origins

The ENDURANCE CubeSat mission, led by IBM, represents a transformative step in opening space exploration to all. Far beyond simply deploying another satellite, this mission underscores a bold commitment to inclusivity, breaking through geographical, economic, and geopolitical barriers that have long hindered global collaboration in space.

Historically, the U.S. space industry has faced challenges in broadening access to space. These hurdles are even more pronounced in developing nations, where limited resources and opportunities constrain involvement in space technology. The ENDURANCE mission was conceived to address these disparities. Its ambitious goal was clear: to inspire and empower the next generation of space explorers by making the wonders of the cosmos accessible to school-aged children, sparking curiosity, and nurturing future leaders in space science.

In late 2021, IBM's Space Tech team, led by Naeem Altaf (Mission Lead for CubeSat ENDURANCE, IBM Distinguished Engineer, Master Inventor, and CTO of Space Tech), developed the innovative software platform with Minsik Lee, STSM, and his lead software developer. This platform enabled Earth observation tasks to be executed using the CubeSat's onboard sensors. The mission name "ENDURANCE" reflects the resilience and perseverance integral to every phase of its lifecycle. This name also underscores the mission’s dedication to democratizing space access, enabling students worldwide to engage with space technology despite CubeSat's modest size and resources. To commemorate the mission, an ENDURANCE patch was designed.

IBM partnered with EnduroSat, a European space company, to utilize its Shared Satellite Service to advance IBM's edge computing capabilities in space. EnduroSat selected SpaceX as the launch provider for the CubeSat. This collaboration assigned EnduroSat the task of constructing the CubeSat. Below are images showcasing the ENDURANCE CubeSat.

Engaging Students: A Bridge Between Education and Space Exploration

The ENDURANCE CubeSat mission leveraged a dynamic, real-time platform that seamlessly integrated education, technology, and international collaboration. By allowing students to engage directly with space technology, the mission transformed the abstract concept of space into something tangible and accessible. This approach invited a broader range of voices and perspectives to contribute to space exploration, fostering diversity and innovation in the field.

Bringing Students Into the Mission

In September 2021, Heidi Kraemer (IBM Global P-TECH Leader, CSR) recognized Terrie Rust's experience with CubeSats and coding and tasked her with leading efforts to engage P-TECH students in the ENDURANCE project. Terrie, a lifelong educator and content writer for IBM's CSR program, had been actively involved in P-TECH (IBM's global skilling initiative) and was well-positioned to connect students with this unique opportunity. After collaborating with Naeem Altaf and the Space Tech team to define the desired outcomes for student involvement, Terrie drafted a global recruitment flyer to attract student teams.

Teams were required to meet specific criteria, including a two-year commitment to align with the CubeSat's planned mission duration. By March 2022, five P-TECH teams were selected: two from Taiwan (National Taipei University of Technology), one from the UK (Leeds College), and two from the US (Falcon Tech and P-TECH 535).

Building a Supportive Ecosystem

Around the same time, Steve Fisher-Stawinski (Program Manager, STSM, Patent Strategy & Defense, IP) discovered the ENDURANCE initiative while exploring ways to contribute to the IBM Academy of Technology (now the Open Innovation Community). A passionate space enthusiast, Steve embraced the opportunity to join the project. Recognizing the need for comprehensive documentation and student-friendly resources, he formed a documentation team and collaborated with Terrie to create lessons for the student teams.

These lessons spanned topics such as space technologies, orbital mechanics, and coding, equipping students with essential knowledge and workplace skills like collaboration, analytical thinking, agility, and entrepreneurship. The materials were hosted on a dedicated student team website, managed by Minsik Lee, ensuring continuous support for participants.

Preparing Students for Hands-On Engagement

Given that the ultimate goal was for students to communicate with the satellite, proficiency in Python was essential. To build on their foundational Python knowledge from IBM SkillsBuild courses, student teams received Raspberry Pi kits. These kits enabled them to practice accessing data from sensors, capturing images, performing calculations, and transmitting results to Earth via ground stations and IBM Cloud.

To streamline this process, Steve’s team developed a comprehensive Coding Guide, ensuring that students could structure their submissions correctly for the CubeSat. Through these hands-on activities and mentorship from IBM professionals, students gained not only technical skills but also invaluable real-world experience, bridging the gap between classroom learning and cutting-edge space exploration.

The Launch

On May 25, 2022, at 18:35 UTC, the ENDURANCE CubeSat embarked on its journey to space. It was launched aboard SpaceX's Transporter 5 mission via a Falcon 9 rocket from SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, USA.

Aboard the rocket, an onboard camera provided real-time visuals, allowing the Space Tech Team and student teams worldwide to witness the moment ENDURANCE was released into Low Earth Orbit. In the footage (as shown below).

NORAD assigned the identification code "Platform-1" to the ENDURANCE CubeSat. Live tracking of its orbit was made possible through platforms like N2YO.com, offering continuous updates on its position. The launch and mission garnered significant media attention, with a particular focus on the innovative student engagement component.

Capturing Our Planet Earth

The ENDURANCE CubeSat’s onboard camera provided stunning visuals. These images not only documented the mission's progress but also inspired and connected participants to the broader wonders of space exploration.

Coding to the ENDURANCE Mission

At the heart of the mission was IBM’s groundbreaking Edge Computing in Space solution, powered by Linux OS and Red Hat’s MicroShift technology. This advanced setup enabled seamless interaction between the CubeSat and teams on Earth, bringing the concept of coding in space to life.

The process began with code submissions from the Space Tech and student teams, which were first uploaded to the IBM Cloud for rigorous verification. Once approved, the code was uplinked to the CubeSat via ground stations. Once onboard, the CubeSat executed tasks such as Earth observation by interacting with sensors to capture images, perform scientific calculations, and send the results back to Earth through the IBM Cloud.

The Space Tech Team began running their code in early fall 2022, while student teams achieved their first successful deployment in the spring of 2023.

The Impact: Voices of the Participants

Perhaps the best testament to the mission’s success comes from some of the students who participated:

Mahmoud, Orbit Rangers (P-TECH 535, MN): "Seeing how programming is used in space systems has been transformative. Writing code and interacting with the CubeSat allowed me to experience the practical side of programming and inspired me to pursue a career in space."

Allen, SpaceAce (National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan): "Having access to the satellite and retrieving data from space made my dream come true. This program was an incredible opportunity, and I’m deeply grateful to have been a part of it."

Mission Objectives Accomplished

As of December 20th, 2024, the ENDURANCE CubeSat remains fully operational, continuing its Earth observation tasks beyond its initial two-year mission timeline. The mission successfully met its primary objectives, with the satellite performing exceptionally in orbit since its launch.

A New Vision for Space Exploration and The ENDURANCE Legacy

Space exploration has always been about uncovering answers to humanity's most profound questions: our origins, our place in the universe, and the story of our world. Yet, for too long, space has remained the domain of a select few—powerful nations, wealthy corporations, and elite organizations. For most, space has been a distant wonder, something to gaze at but never touch.

Unlike students in disciplines like environmental science or marine biology, those interested in space rarely have the chance to engage directly with it. Space remains inaccessible—but it doesn’t have to be. The future of space exploration depends on democratizing access, enabling not only governments and large corporations but also universities, small companies, and individuals to contribute to space innovation. With broader access, we can unlock untapped potential, leading to groundbreaking discoveries and rapid progress in the field.

IBM’s ENDURANCE mission is a beacon of what democratized space exploration can achieve. It represents more than technological innovation. It signifies a shift in how humanity perceives and interacts with space. ENDURANCE embodies the belief that space is a shared heritage, filled with mysteries waiting to be uncovered and opportunities for collective growth and discovery.

As we stand on the cusp of a new era, CubeSat missions like ENDURANCE remind us that in the infinite expanse of the universe, there is room for every dreamer, innovator, and explorer. This mission calls on all of us to come together, push the boundaries, and forge new frontiers of innovation in space exploration.

Because, as we like to say, "The Sky Is Not the Limit!"

Authors: Naeem Altaf Terrie Rust Steve Fisher-Stawinski