LISAT-01: A Student Nanosatellite for Maritime Monitoring

LISAT-01 is a student-led nanosatellite mission developed in Portugal with the purpose of supporting maritime monitoring activities within the Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone and Search and Rescue Region. The mission focuses on the integration and validation of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data reception from space, contributing to improved situational awareness in maritime surveillance contexts.

The project is developed by LISAT, a multidisciplinary university team composed of students from engineering, management and science backgrounds, operating under a structured systems engineering approach. LISAT-01 follows a CubeSat-based architecture, designed to meet strict constraints on mass, power and volume while ensuring mission reliability and scalability for future iterations.

The primary mission payload consists of an AIS receiver capable of collecting vessel identification and positioning data from orbit. This data will be used to demonstrate the feasibility of low-cost, student-developed nanosatellites as complementary tools for maritime monitoring, particularly in large oceanic regions where terrestrial coverage is limited.

Beyond its technical objectives, LISAT-01 has a strong educational and capacity-building dimension. The mission provides hands-on experience in satellite design, verification and project management, while fostering collaboration with academic institutions, industry partners and national stakeholders. By combining technical validation with human capital development, LISAT-01 aims to contribute to the growth of the national space ecosystem and to establish a sustainable foundation for future student-driven space missions.