Space Operations Group

The Space Operations Group, or SOG, is a research group formed in 2022 within the Department of Space Studies, located in Clifford Hall. This group focuses on satellite mission operations, aerospace mission concept development, and stratospheric ballooning. Current research topics include on-orbit docking, doppler tracking, and space and upper atmosphere radio communications. SOG operates the Odegard Ground Station (OGS) and the Mobile Ground Station (MGS). OGS is being developed to support the ROADS mission. MGS is adjacent to the Inflatable Lunar-Mars Analogue Habitat and has been used to support Doppler tracking research. The local amateur radio community also utilizes MGS for events. 

In addition to the lab in Clifford Hall and the various ground stations, SOG manages the Space Operations Center (SpOC), a new classroom designed to support satellite mission operations. SpOC will ultimately allow UND to control satellite missions through the OGS via remote connection. SOG is working with Added Value Solutions (AVS) on ROADS, which is North Dakota's first satellite mission. SOG is actively participating in the University of Louisiana-Lafayette's CAPE-IV mission by integrating and operating a communications payload built by AMSAT for this satellite. SOG is also working with AMSAT on the development of a digital space-borne repeater, PACSAT. SOG consists of faculty, staff, and graduate and undergraduate students.