Lessons Learned from UPAEP’s AzTechSat-1 and Gxiba-1 Nanosatellites

This paper presents lessons learned during the development of the AzTechSat-1 nanosatellite (rule-based and driven by NASA methods) and the Gxiba-1 nanosatellite (documentation-driven and demonstration-oriented), both of which were influenced by NASA’s mission culture and JAXA’s Japanese methodology. Both missions are grounded in systems engineering (traceable requirements, subsystem decomposition, and controlled integration). Quality gates, including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR/QR, and ORR, required design maturity, risk closure, test plans, and configuration management before advancing, thereby minimizing rework. Gxiba-1 emphasized the importance of timely documentation and objective, evidence-based records (including photographic and measurable data), while AzTechSat-1 focused on traceability and fostering a mission culture. Collaboration between undergraduate and graduate students across engineering programs (aerospace, mechatronics, electronics, and computing) requires a pyramidal role architecture: mentors, subsystem leads, and operational cells. Short daily meetings, Kanban boards, issue tracking, test logs, and subsystem peer reviews helped reduce role ambiguity and accelerate risk management for all participants. The ‘document for the next shift’ rule mitigated student turnover. For Verification and Validation (V&V), we relied fully on standards (the CubeSat Design Specification and relevant ECSS/ISO standards) as acceptance and qualification criteria, defining vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum, and EMI/EMC campaigns, as well as functional testing and flatsat-style integration. Checklists, fault trees, and objective indicators (e.g., raw data, plots, photographs) provided technical and programmatic confidence. The participation of governmental stakeholders – space agencies, spectrum regulators, and permitting/logistics facilitators – was critical for the deployment and operation of the ground station. Finally, UPAEP’s trust in faculty leadership, laboratory infrastructure, and clear project governance enabled every phase, from concept and design to integration, testing, and operational readiness. The model is replicable and strengthens Mexico’s space ecosystem.