LSTN

LSTN (the Library Space Technology Network) gave public library communities the chance to build and operate their own satellite ground stations. During the pilot, five public libraries around the world installed ground stations powered by SatNOGS. Participants joined a global open source network that helps small satellites communicate with Earth. Builds took place in Moldova, Chile, Texas, and Massachusetts, bringing real space-mission participation to communities well outside traditional research institutions.

I initiated and led LSTN in partnership with the Libre Space Foundation, the team behind SatNOGS. Participating libraries did more than host equipment. They tested the tools as newcomers to space technology and gave feedback that shaped both the ground station builds and MetaSat, an open vocabulary for satellite missions. This helped make the whole system more usable by people with no background in space technology.

LSTN was built around a simple idea: that public libraries are well placed to help new communities take part in real scientific research. The pilot and its goals are documented in our Bulletin of the AAS paper and the LSTN Handbook.