NASA, in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Space Force, is offering a hands-on program to learn what it takes to build small satellites.
NASA announced on January 16 that the collaboration was searching for universities to participate in the University Nanosatellite Program Mission Concepts 2024 Summer Series. The program enhances students’ potential to be selected for flights to space via NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative and the U.S. Air Force University Nanosatellite Program in 2024
The CubeSat Launch Initiative encourages university students to construct CubeSats, aka nanosatellites used for research purposes. “The cube-shaped satellites are spacecraft sized in standardized units or Us, typically up to 12U. A CubeSat unit is defined as a volume of about 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm and typically weighs less than 2 kg [4.4 pounds].”
CubeSats get paired with a launch based on when they are ready, the constraints of the mission, and the planned orbit to be deployed either from the launch itself or from the International Space Station, where a crew member will set the CubeSat into orbit.
“The CubeSat Launch Initiative is one of many ways NASA is attracting and retaining students in STEM disciplines,” reads NASA’s website. “This strengthens NASA’s and the nation’s future workforce. Further, the initiative promotes and develops innovative technology partnerships among NASA, U.S. industry, and other sectors for the benefit of agency programs and projects.”
To date, the program has accepted 200 CubeSat missions from over 100 organizations across 42 states. Three of these CubeSats have come from the State of Texas.
The U.S. Air Force University Nanosatellite Program also encourages university students to competitively design, build, launch, and track small satellites.
The University Nanosatellite Program Mission Concepts 2024 Summer Series runs from May through August and will be open to all U.S. colleges and universities. Project proposals must be received by February 9.
To attend an upcoming virtual question and answer session about Mission Concepts 2024, please email [email protected].
For more information, click here.
