Space exploration has always been controlled and strongly dependent on Ground Stations. The new age of space exploration increasingly relies on CubeSats, which are small, fast, and low-cost satellites. The operation of these satellites still depends on a fundamental Earth-based element: the ability to ensure reliable, continuous, and, if possible, global communication for telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C), and for the downlink of the valuable data they acquire.

A strong ground segment is therefore essential to exploit the scientific and technological return of any space mission. It represents the link between the satellite orbiting the Earth and the engineers and scientists on the ground, allowing the spacecraft to be monitored, controlled, and scientifically utilized. But how can we communicate with satellites 24/7? And how can we handle and process in the best way the large amount of data they generate?

The Ground Station project addresses these challenges by creating a permanent and versatile ground station located at the Bovisa Campus. The station will be used mainly to track the PoliSpace CubeSat once launched, but its possibilities extend much further.

One of the most exciting activities within the Ground Station Project is currently being handled by the Postprocessing Team. The team is developing a fully data-driven, end-to-end weather forecasting system based on a modular machine learning architecture. Its goal is to generate high-resolution short-term forecasts, up to 48–72 hours ahead and updated hourly, with a spatial resolution of 250 m per pixel. The system achieves this by integrating and preprocessing heterogeneous meteorological datasets, including satellite imagery, buoy measurements, ship observations, and global reanalysis data. A specific focus is placed on extreme weather events.

The Ground Station project represents our open window to the cosmos. It embodies a commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Every packet of data received is a step forward in satellite technology and a leap toward mastering the complex dynamics of our own planet. The future of space operations and Earth observation starts here, on the ground.