Resumen de University satellite project—ITASAT: creating technological capabilities
Antonio Ramaldo de Souza Carvalho, Ligia Maria Soto Urbina, Lídia Hissae Shibuya Sato, David Fernandes
In order to meet the demand for future generations of micro satellites, as well as to build and to accumulate technologicalcapability, the Brazilian Space Agency has established a Government Action which intends to strengthen its space program, mainlythrough the ITASAT Project (University Satellite). One of the objectives of ITASAT Project, maybe the most relevant one, is tocontribute to the human capital improvement by involving university students in the design and development of a small satellite.Thus, this research seeks to understand how capabilities were developed at an individual and a team level, through a process ofteaching-learning-teaching, involving a learning-by-doing and learning-by-experiencing support. The methodology used on thisresearch is qualitative, in which the subsystems teams were observed by the researcher during 2010 and 2011. In order tocomplement and corroborate conclusions based on the observation method, a questionnaire survey was developed, which wasapplied to a representative sample, aiming to capture students’ perceptions regarding learning process and building technologicalcapabilities within the project. Thus, it was observed that students’ teams acquired technological knowledge through a teaching-learning method supported by learning-by- doing and learning-by- experiencing processes. The knowledge and skills developed bythose teams go beyond the walls of the academy, impacting the Brazilian society and its space industry. Finally, it was concludedthat ITASAT Project was a successful learning experience in the field of complex system integration, project management andtechnical developments accomplished by subsystems teams.
