DSST Public Schools & Alba Orbital Announce PocketQube Education Satellite With Industry Mentorship From Lockheed Martin Space
17th February 2026, Glasgow - Alba Orbital is pleased to announce a launch contract with DSST Public Schools for a new education satellite mission.
The mission, DSSTSat-1, brings together student leaders from multiple DSST high schools to design, build, and operate a PocketQube satellite bound for low Earth orbit. The project gives students hands-on experience across the full space mission lifecycle, supported by mentorship from Lockheed Martin Space and the University of Colorado, and is funded in part by the Colorado Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics.
DSSTSAT-1: STUDENT-LED EDUCATION SATELLITE MISSION
DSSTSat-1 builds on DSST’s established aerospace program, where students have previously designed CubeSat emulators launched to approximately 100,000 feet via high-altitude balloon missions. This PocketQube mission represents a significant step forward, transitioning from near-space experimentation to a fully operational education satellite in low Earth orbit.
The picosatellite will utilise space-based edge computing technology to support Earth science experiments
INDUSTRY MENTORSHIP FROM LOCKHEED MARTIN SPACE
An important element of the DSSTSat-1 mission is the involvement of volunteers from Lockheed Martin Space and the University of Colorado Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences.
Through this mentorship, students are learning directly from engineers working on some of the world’s most advanced space systems.
POCKETQUBES IN EDUCATION AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO ORBIT
DSST Teacher and Students
PocketQubes are standardised pico-satellites that provide an affordable and accessible entry point to space. Their reduced size and cost enable schools and universities to take advantage of affordable launch opportunities while managing technical and financial risk.
PocketQubes also allow missions to scale over time, enabling educational teams to increase mission complexity by moving to larger PocketQube configurations. This enables long-term educational programmes to grow in ambition without the cost and complexity jump associated with moving to larger satellite classes.
ABOUT ALBA ORBITAL
Alba Orbital continues to expand access to orbit for a growing range of NewSpace innovators, from academic teams to frontier technology startups.
To date, Alba Orbital has delivered 53 pico-satellites into orbit with launch partners such as SpaceX and Rocket Lab, and has worked with over 30 customers worldwide.
Contact: contact@albaorbital.com
ABOUT DSST PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Students soldering components onto PCBs
DSST was founded in 2004 as the Denver School of Science and Technology and now operates a network of STEM middle and high schools in Denver and Aurora, serving over 7,600 students across 16 schools. Nearly 90% of DSST students are students of color, and more than 70% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. In 2018, DSST was awarded the Broad Prize and recognized as the top charter school network in the country. DSST is dedicated to preparing students for success in STEM through rigorous academics, experiential learning, and strong engagement with industry partners.