The AAUSAT5 was once again a CubeSat measuring 10 x 10 x 10 cm with a mass of 1 kg. It was one of the first two ESA satellites ever sent into orbit directly from the International Space Station.

The main misson of the AAUSAT5 was to test an improved receiver for detecting Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals emitted by ships - just as the AAUSAT4. In addition, one other major goal was to determine whether the satellite would be capable of registering ships as planned and, if so, whether it could then relay the ships’ positions down to the control centre.

The communication with the satellite, however, quickly turned out to be a challenge for the students. Following the launch, the project team experienced initial difficulties in establishing a two way communication link with the satellite from the control centre in Aalborg. After several attempts to improve the ground station performance, the investigation hence revealed that the northern location of Aalborg, relative to the satellite’s orbit, was a contributor to the communication issue. Therefore, the project team had to reach out to ham operators in more southern locations in Europe for help.

The project team hereafter sent special equipment down to a German ham radio operator. From a location south of Frankfurt, the operator could then act as a relay station between the student's control centre in Aalborg and the satellite whenever it passed over Europe. In this way, the project team managed to establish communication with the AAUSAT5.