First Contact with UND ROADS 1 & 2
Get a closer look at the ROADS Mission and how its early phases have shaped the experience of UND’s students and faculty.
First Contact for UND ROADS Mission
Late last night, at approximately 00:06:00 UTC (7:06 PM for UND, 2:12 AM for AVS Spain Operators), first contact was successfully made with UND ROADS 1 & 2 from the AVS Spain Ground Station. The UND Space Operations Group gathered in the Space Operations Center to witness the moment live, while Jacob Stanley and Dr. Ronald Fevig supported operations directly from the AVS Spain Ground Station. This shared milestone across two continents provided the Space Operations Group with invaluable first-hand experience during the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) of the ROADS Mission.
Health Checks and Early Operations
Shortly after establishing communication, AVS Spain Operators began running health checks to confirm that all satellite subsystems were functioning nominally. With the satellites currently flying very close together, operators are facing a unique challenge: dividing the limited 10-minute communication window between the two spacecraft. This juggling act highlights just how fast-paced and critical these early weeks of satellite operations can be.
For UND’s student operators, this experience has been eye-opening. It has served as an introduction to the controlled chaos of space operations and a training ground for their future as capable satellite operators.
What’s Next in LEOP
The LEOP phase will last approximately two weeks, with AVS Spain conducting four passes a day while UND Space Operations Group observes remotely. Once LEOP concludes, engineers from AVS will travel to Grand Forks to help commission the Odegard Ground Station. With UND’s support, this will mark the completion of the first phase in AVS’ handover of nominal operations and the next chapter in the ROADS Mission.
A Breath of Relief and an Open Invitation
With both satellites operating nominally and first contacts complete, the team can finally take a well-earned deep breath. But this is just the beginning.
If you’re interested in learning more about the ROADS mission, or even in becoming one of UND’s first Trained Satellite Operators, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at the Space Operations Group at undsog@space.edu for more information on how you can get involved.
