Open source software (OSS) is used virtually everywhere and open source hardware (OSHW) is getting more and more popular as well. Then why not apply the philosophy of open source to space?

The Open Source Cubesat Workshop (OSCW) was created exactly for that: to promote the open source philosophy for CubeSat missions and further. Its first edition takes place at the site from which all ESA missions are operated: the European Space Operations Center (ESOC).

CubeSats have proven to be an ideal tool for exploring news ways of doing space missions: therefore let’s remove the barrier of confidentiality and secrecy, and start to freely share knowledge and information about how to build and operate CubeSats. This workshop provides a forum for CubeSat developers and CubeSat mission operators to meet and join forces on open source projects to benefit from transparency, inclusivity, adaptability, collaboration and community.

The focus of this year’s workshop is on mission operations and how the open source approach applied to space and ground segment might impact this important area. The target audience of this workshop is academia, research institutes, companies, and individuals.