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MissionLab

Digital Twin learning

CUBESTEM MISSIONLAB

Learn spacecraft engineering by operating a Digital Twin.

From Grade 6 to university, learners use the same spacecraft model at increasing academic depth — making predictions, running missions, interpreting evidence and making engineering decisions.

Try the Grade 7 missionExplore the learning pathwaySee all mission families

Learning pathway

One spacecraft. Increasing academic depth.

Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grades 9–10, Grades 11–12 and University learners use the same Digital Twin. Language and controls change. The underlying spacecraft model does not fork.

  1. 01 · ML-A Explorer

    Grade 6

    Observe & Explain

  2. 02 · ML-A Explorer

    Grade 7

    Control & Compare

  3. 03 · ML-A Explorer

    Grade 8

    Design & Justify

  4. 04 · ML-B Builder

    Grades 9–10

    Calculate · Model · Compare · Test

  5. 05 · ML-C Engineer

    Grades 11–12

    Analyse · Program · Evaluate · Optimise

  6. 06 · ML-D Mission Systems

    University

    Design · Integrate · Verify · Validate

Learners predict, run, compare evidence, explain and decide.

Learners do not just watch an animation. A MissionLab activity follows a teacher-guided evidence loop. There is no automatic official grading.

  1. 01Theory
  2. 02Mission Question
  3. 03Prediction
  4. 04Digital Twin
  5. 05Evidence
  6. 06Analysis
  7. 07Engineering Decision
  8. 08Teacher Review
  9. 09Home Follow-up

What they learn

Ten Mission Learning Outcomes. These are CubeSTEM competency descriptors, not an accredited syllabus mapping.

  1. 01

    Systems Thinking

  2. 02

    Measurement & Data

  3. 03

    Physics & Mathematics

  4. 04

    Modelling, Dynamics & Control

  5. 05

    Computing, Telemetry & Communications

  6. 06

    Engineering Inquiry, Test & Verification

  7. 07

    Orbit & Mission Operations

  8. 08

    Payload, Information & Mission Value

  9. 09

    Evidence & Technical Communication

  10. 10

    Teamwork, Safety & Professional Practice

12 mission families

The academic structure covers twelve families. Mapped does not mean each family already has a polished learner UI.

  1. 01

    First Contact & Spacecraft Systems

  2. 02

    Sensors, Telemetry & Data Quality

  3. 03

    Electrical Power & Energy Management

  4. 04

    Attitude, Motion & Reaction Wheels

  5. 05

    Feedback, Estimation & Control

  6. 06

    Communications & Ground Link

  7. 07

    Orbit, Ground Track & Contact Planning

  8. 08

    Payload / Imaging / Mission Data

  9. 09

    Thermal & Environmental Constraints

  10. 10

    Faults, Diagnosis & Recovery

  11. 11

    Integrated Mission Operations

  12. 12

    Model-versus-Hardware Verification / Capstone

15 mapped experiences

All fifteen experiments exist in the frozen academic catalogue. Two reusable product pilot lessons are available for review today.

  • MLX-01

    Deployment to First Contact

    MAPPED IN FRAMEWORK

  • MLX-02

    Read the Spacecraft

    MAPPED IN FRAMEWORK

  • MLX-03

    Power the Mission

    MAPPED IN FRAMEWORK

  • MLX-04

    Command the Spacecraft Attitude

    MAPPED IN FRAMEWORK

  • MLX-05

    Stabilise the Spacecraft

    MAPPED IN FRAMEWORK

  • MLX-06

    Establish and Protect the Link

    COMBINED PILOT LESSON: ORBIT → PASS → GROUND LINK

  • MLX-07

    Find the Next Pass

    COMBINED PILOT LESSON: ORBIT → PASS → GROUND LINK

  • MLX-08

    Plan the Payload Observation

    MAPPED IN FRAMEWORK

  • MLX-09

    Survive the Environment

    MAPPED IN FRAMEWORK

  • MLX-10

    Configure the Spacecraft

    MAPPED IN FRAMEWORK

  • MLX-11

    Diagnose and Recover the Mission

    MAPPED IN FRAMEWORK

  • MLX-12

    Operate the Mission End to End

    MAPPED IN FRAMEWORK

  • MLX-13

    Write a Safe Mission Policy

    MAPPED IN FRAMEWORK

  • MLX-14

    Prove the Model Against Evidence

    MAPPED IN FRAMEWORK

  • MLX-15

    Attitude Changes How Much Sunlight Becomes Energy

    PILOT LESSON

Two reusable pilot lessons

These are teacher-guided, software-only pilot lessons pending external educator review and a manual classroom pilot. They are not live satellite operations.

Pilot lesson

Point the spacecraft. Change the energy.

How does spacecraft orientation change sunlight and generated energy?

Software Twin evidence. Not measured array performance or a flight energy prediction.

Open Grade 7 pilot lesson

Pilot lesson

Find the pass. Plan the contact.

When is a spacecraft in view — and what does that still not prove?

Tracked ≠ signal received ≠ data decoded

Open Grade 7 pilot lesson

Tracked ≠ signal received ≠ data decoded

What the teacher does

Introduce the mission question, ask for a learner prediction, facilitate the Digital Twin run, review evidence, discuss the engineering decision, and challenge model limitations. MissionLab does not initially require student accounts, an LMS, official grading, or hardware.

School

Clearer language, bounded controls, teacher-guided evidence, same underlying physics and models.

University

Deeper quantitative analysis, provenance and V&V, subsystem integration, and engineering limitations.

Same spacecraft. Completely different academic depth.

First school pilot

How we would start with a school

A teacher-guided, software-only Grade 7 trial for 10–15 learners, preferably in pairs. Two sessions of about 55–70 minutes. No student account, official grade, or hardware required. The reusable lesson shell supports the trial but does not replace the required educator review or manual classroom evidence.

  • Session 1: Attitude → Sunlight → Energy
  • Session 2: Orbit → Pass → Ground Link

Evidence: prediction, observation, engineering decision, one model limitation, reflection, and a pre/post concept check.

Start with the Grade 7 missionSee both pilot lessons

Current, mapped, and later

  • Available today: academic framework, six depths, two pilot lessons, teacher-guided school pilot plan.
  • Mapped in academic framework: remainder of the 15 experiences.
  • Under later validation: classroom usability and educator feedback.
  • Optional now: supervised KidSAT demonstrations. Formal Twin correlation remains commissioning work.
Advanced / existing workspaces

Earlier engineering workbenches remain available and unchanged. They are not the school-facing flagship story.