QUETZAL-1 CubeSat's Command and Data Handling – Design and Development Considerations

This paper presents the design and development considerations for the Command and Data Handling (C&DH) subsystem of QUETZAL-1, Guatemala's first satellite. The C&DH system serves as the satellite's central processing unit, managing all onboard operations, data storage, and inter-subsystem communication. Key design decisions, hardware selection, software architecture, and lessons learned during the development process are discussed. The work provides insights into the challenges faced when developing a CubeSat C&DH system with limited resources and the solutions implemented to ensure reliable operation in the space environment.