High School / HS-05
Available Grades 9–12 Aerospace Computing & data
Build a ground-test sensor payload in the 1U CubeSat form factor, write its power and data budgets, and verify it against requirements with bench tests.
Build a ground-test sensor payload in the 1U CubeSat form factor (100 × 100 × 113.5 mm), write its requirements and its orbit, power and data budgets, then verify it against those requirements with bench tests: power by mode, mass and centre of gravity, data generated vs. downlinked through a compressed-time "pass", and fault responses.
Students will:
Every high school pack includes worked math and physics, prediction-versus-measurement labs, at least two design-and-test iterations, data logging, a rubric, and documentation templates, plus printable Builder's Corner build journal pages.
Parts, specs, quantities, and estimated unit costs, with places to buy. Prices change; anything marked as an estimate is an estimate. Links were checked when the BOM was written.
Totals are computed from the line items below. Prices were read from vendor pages on the dates shown and will change. Rows tagged estimate have no verified link and are planning numbers only.
| ID | Part & spec | Qty | Unit (typical) | Line (typical) | Where to buy | Cheaper substitute | Adult handling / safety gear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | ESP32 Feather V2 (flight-computer stand-in + Wi-Fi 'radio') Adafruit PID 5400 · LiPo charger on board; Wi-Fi soft-AP downlink | 1 | $19.95 | $19.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $19.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | Adafruit HUZZAH32 Feather (PID 3405) | Header soldering: adult supervision, eye protection, ventilation |
| E2 | Adalogger FeatherWing (PCF8523 RTC + microSD) Adafruit PID 2922 · SD chip-select on GPIO 33 for ESP32 Feathers; RTC needs a CR1220 coin cell (E2b) | 1 | $8.95 | $8.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $8.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | Feather SD breakout over SPI | — |
| E2b | CR1220 coin cell (RTC backup) Adafruit PID 380 · 3 V lithium | 1 | $0.95 | $0.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $0.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · Out of stock on 2026-10-09 | Any CR1220 (drugstore) | Coin cells are a swallowing hazard: keep from young children |
| E3 | Stacking headers for Feather Adafruit PID 2830 · 12 + 16 pin female, to stack the Adalogger on the Feather | 1 | $1.25 | $1.25 | adafruit.com Adafruit $1.25 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | — | Soldering (supervised) |
| E4 | microSD card 32 GB SparkFun, Class 10, with adapter; formatted FAT32 | 1 | $14.95 | $14.95 | sparkfun.com SparkFun $14.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · Not recorded (page showed mixed stock labels) | Any ≤ 32 GB microSD the school has (low total); Adafruit 8 GB PID 1294 $23.50 was out of stock | — |
| E5 | INA219 current/voltage sensor (battery line) Adafruit PID 904 · 0.1 Ω shunt; firmware uses the 32 V / 1 A calibration (~0.04 mA steps) for Wi-Fi peaks | 1 | $9.95 | $9.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $9.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | USB power meter (measures USB, not battery — weaker test) | — |
| E6 | BME280 temperature / humidity / pressure Adafruit PID 2652 · STEMMA QT, I²C 0x77 | 1 | $14.95 | $14.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $14.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | BMP280 PID 2651 $9.95 (verified, no humidity; low total) · BMP390 PID 4816 $10.95 was out of stock | — |
| E7 | 9-DoF IMU LSM6DSOX + LIS3MDL Adafruit PID 4517 · gyro, accelerometer, magnetometer; STEMMA QT | 1 | $19.95 | $19.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $19.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | MPU-6050 (no magnetometer; firmware changes needed) | — |
| E8 | VEML7700 lux sensor ('sun sensor') Adafruit PID 4162 · STEMMA QT, I²C 0x10 | 1 | $4.95 | $4.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $4.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | Photoresistor + resistor on an ADC pin | — |
| E9 | STEMMA QT cable 100 mm Adafruit PID 4210 · daisy chain Feather → INA219 → BME280 → IMU → VEML7700 | 5 | $0.95 | $4.75 | adafruit.com Adafruit $0.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | — | — |
| E10 | Slide switch (DEPLOY switch, in series with the battery's red lead) Adafruit PID 805 · SPDT, rated DC 50 V 0.5 A, contact ≤ 50 mΩ (datasheet SS-12E17G2, read 2026-10-09); common + one outer pin in the battery harness: OFF disconnects the battery from everything (CDS §2.3.2.1). Payload mean battery current ≈ 0.19 A with the radio on (estimate) | 1 | $0.95 | $0.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $0.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | Any slide switch rated ≥ 0.5 A DC that fits the 7 × 3.5 mm panel slot. Not a switch on the EN pin: EN turns off only the 3.3 V regulator | Part of the adult-built battery harness (P2) |
| E11 | Hook-up wire 22 AWG solid (6 × 25 ft) Adafruit PID 1311 · DEPLOY-switch leads in the battery harness | 1 | $15.95 | $15.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $15.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | Any 22–26 AWG wire (low total assumes owned) | — |
| E12 | USB-A to USB-C data cable Adafruit PID 4474 | 1 | $4.95 | $4.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $4.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | Any USB-C data cable you own | — |
| Subtotal | $122.45 | Low-cost path: $81.60 | |||||
| ID | Part & spec | Qty | Unit (typical) | Line (typical) | Where to buy | Cheaper substitute | Adult handling / safety gear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | LiPo 3.7 V 1200 mAh (JST-PH) Adafruit PID 258 · 34 × 62 × 5 mm (pack listing), protection circuit; 4.44 Wh nominal | 1 | $9.95 | $9.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $9.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | 400 mAh PID 3898 $6.95 (shorter endurance test) · 2500 mAh PID 328 $14.95 | LiPo: never puncture, bend or crush. USB connected = charging (≤ 500 mA, no thermistor): attended only, on a non-flammable surface; full recharges in the pouch; stop if it swells or warms |
| P2 | JST-PH battery extension 500 mm (an adult cuts it to build the INA219 + DEPLOY-switch battery harness) Adafruit PID 1131 · 26 AWG; harness: battery → DEPLOY switch (E10) → INA219 Vin+ → Vin− → Feather | 1 | $1.95 | $1.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $1.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | Best: one pre-assembled, tested harness per kit, made once by the teacher (a Laue Labs-supplied harness is not offered or priced yet) | Adult cuts, solders and tests (build-guide step 9: no red-black short, +3.7–4.2 V red-positive, DEPLOY OFF = 0 V) before the Feather is connected |
| P2b | Heat-shrink tubing assortment (battery harness joints) Adafruit PID 1649 · 3/32, 1/8 and 3/16 in diameters | 1 | $4.95 | $4.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $4.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | Any heat-shrink the school has (low total assumes owned); not electrical tape alone | Adult (part of the harness build) |
| P3 | LiPo safe pouch RDQ LiPo Safe Pouch; store and do full recharges inside | 1 | $7.49 | $7.49 | racedayquads.com RaceDayQuads $7.49 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | Metal ammo can with the seal removed (not priced) | Required for full recharges and storage |
| Subtotal | $24.34 | Low-cost path: $19.39 | |||||
| ID | Part & spec | Qty | Unit (typical) | Line (typical) | Where to buy | Cheaper substitute | Adult handling / safety gear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | Baltic birch plywood 3 mm, 12 × 20 in Wood Vault, 1/8" Laser/CNC grade variant; 1 sheet used + 1 spare | 2 | $3.50 | $7.00 | woodvault.com The Wood Vault $3.50 per sheet (1/8" Laser/CNC grade variant) · checked 2026-10-09 · Not confirmed (variant availability not shown) | Any laser-grade 3 mm birch | Laser: trained adult operator, ventilation |
| M2 | Nylon M2.5 screw + standoff set Adafruit PID 3299 · Feather standoffs and access-panel screws/nuts | 1 | $16.95 | $16.95 | adafruit.com Adafruit $16.95 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock | Any M2.5 nylon screws, nuts and 6–10 mm standoffs | — |
| M3 | Wood glue, double-sided foam tape, hook-and-loop strap Frame glue-up; sensors on foam tape; battery strap through tray A; red card + tape for the REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT tag | 1 | $10.00 estimate | $10.00 | Hardware store (no link) — | Shared classroom supplies | — |
| M4 | Laser cutter access or cutting service 1 sheet | 1 | $8.00 estimate | $8.00 | Makerspace / cut service (no link) — | — | Trained adult operator |
| Subtotal | $41.95 | Low-cost path: $31.95 | |||||
| ID | Part & spec | Qty | Unit (typical) | Line (typical) | Where to buy | Cheaper substitute | Adult handling / safety gear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Digital scale 0.1 g, 600 g (mass and CG) American Weigh ZIP600 via Newegg | 1 | $33.98 | $33.98 | newegg.com Newegg (third-party seller) $33.98 · checked 2026-10-09 · In stock (page data) | Any 0.1 g scale ≥ 300 g | — |
| T2 | Digital calipers 150 mm (envelope and protrusion checks) SparkFun | 1 | $19.95 | $19.95 | sparkfun.com SparkFun $19.95 (single-unit price) · checked 2026-10-09 · Not recorded | Steel rule (±0.5 mm) — too coarse for the 6.5 mm protrusion check | — |
| T3 | Digital multimeter Continuity, polarity, battery voltage cross-check | 1 | $21.50 | $21.50 | sparkfun.com SparkFun $21.50 · checked 2026-10-09 · Not recorded | Assumed owned in the low total | — |
| T4 | Temperature-controlled soldering iron Pinecil | 1 | $68.50 | $68.50 | sparkfun.com SparkFun $68.50 · checked 2026-10-09 · Not recorded | Any temperature-controlled iron the school owns | Adult supervision, eye protection, ventilation |
| T5 | Lead-free solder 15 g SparkFun | 1 | $4.95 | $4.95 | sparkfun.com SparkFun $4.95 (single-unit price) · checked 2026-10-09 · Not recorded | — | Wash hands after soldering |
| T6 | Safety glasses, ANSI Z87.1-marked Z87+ (soldering, lead clipping, cutting) 3M SecureFit SF201AF · clear anti-fog polycarbonate lens marked Z87+ (ANSI Z87.1 impact-rated; 3M spec table on strobelssupply.com and safetycompany.com, read 2026-10-09) | 3 | $5.32 | $15.96 | platt.com Platt Electric Supply $5.32 EA · checked 2026-10-09 · 40 in stock (company-wide) | Any glasses marked Z87+ (ANSI Z87.1 high-impact). Not SparkFun SWG-11046: it lists only CE/EN 1836, a sunglass standard, not impact-rated | — |
| T7 | Desk lamp ('Sun') and a box or cloth ('eclipse') Any LED desk lamp | 1 | $15.00 estimate | $15.00 | Any (no link) — | Phone flashlight | — |
| T8 | Insulated cooler + ice packs (cold-soak test, optional) Lab 5 extension: payload in a sealed bag, never in contact with ice water | 1 | $20.00 estimate | $20.00 | Any (no link) — | School fridge (adult approves) | No LiPo charging when cold; battery stays above 0 °C |
| T9 | Fire safety for LiPo work (sand bucket or Class ABC extinguisher) Within reach of the charging area | 1 | $0.00 estimate | $0.00 | School (no link) — | Assumed owned | Adult |
| T10 | Non-flammable work surface (ceramic tile or metal tray) for every USB session USB connected = charging; the cube sits on it whenever USB is plugged in | 1 | $0.00 estimate | $0.00 | School (no link) — | Assumed owned | Adult in the room whenever USB is connected |
| Subtotal | $199.84 | Low-cost path: $74.84 | |||||
The pack is digital files only. Hardware is bought separately.
These are standards the pack's activities are mapped to by Laue Labs. They are not a certification or endorsement by any standards body or state.
| Activity | NGSS | Common Core / CS |
|---|---|---|
| Lab 1 requirements and budgets | HS-ETS1-1 (criteria and constraints), HS-ETS1-2 | HSN-Q.A.1–3, HSA-CED.A.1 |
| Orbit, eclipse, pass geometry | HS-ESS1-4 (orbital motion, Kepler/Newton) | HSG-SRT.C.8, HSF-TF |
| Lab 2 power test | HS-PS3-1, HS-PS3-3 | HSS-ID.A.2 (compare means) |
| Lab 3 mass and CG | HS-PS2-1 (forces, moments) | HSA-REI.B.3 |
| Lab 4 data and downlink, CRC | HS-PS4-2 (digital transmission and storage), HS-PS4-5 | CSTA 3A-NI-04/05 (networks, data integrity) |
| Lab 5 faults and verification report | HS-ETS1-3, HS-ETS1-4 | — |
One student or one household.
You may:
You may not:
One homeschool family, or one co-op group of up to 10 learners with its facilitator(s).
You may:
You may not:
One teacher with up to 30 students in a single class or cohort.
You may:
You may not:
All licenses: digital files only (hardware not included). Keep Laue Labs attribution on printed handouts. After checkout you get an instant download on the thanks page. License questions, more learners, or site licenses: lance.haney@gmail.com.
