Since the start of the CubeSat Technology Exploration Program (CubeSTEP), the team has achieved major milestones in the design and development of Cerberus — a 3U CubeSat created in partnership with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The project has completed multiple design phases, including a full Critical Design Review (CDR) that confirmed subsystem performance, structural strength, and mission readiness.

Students have successfully designed, fabricated, and tested oscillating heat pipe (OHP) payloads, integrated them into a custom-built CubeSat bus, and conducted thermal-vacuum and vibration tests at Cal Poly Pomona. Using NASA’s F’ (F Prime) framework and FreeFlyer simulations, the team modeled power usage, communication links, and orbital behavior to verify system reliability. These achievements showcase CubeSTEP’s dedication to advancing small-satellite technology through student-led research and engineering excellence.