Defense Speak Interpreted: Is DARPA Still Around After CHIPS?
Beyond the Board: Orbital High Ground—Why Space Superiority Is Slipping Away
The Government Circuit: Trump’s Trade War Disrupts the Electronics Ecosystem
NASA Opens New CubeSat Opportunities for Low-Cost Space Exploration
August 10, 2015 | NASAEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Space enthusiasts have an opportunity to contribute to NASA's exploration goals through the next round of the agency's CubeSat Launch Initiative. Applicants must submit their proposals electronically by 4:30 p.m. EST, November 24.
The CubeSat Launch Initiative provides access to space for CubeSats developed by NASA centers, accredited educational institutions and non-profit organizations, giving CubeSat developers access to a low-cost pathway to conduct research in the areas of science, exploration, technology development, education or operations consistent with NASA's Strategic Plan. NASA does not provide funding for the development of the small satellites.
NASA plans to select the payloads by Feb. 19, 2016, but selection does not guarantee a launch opportunity. Selected experiments will fly as auxiliary payloads on agency rocket launches or be deployed from the International Space Station beginning in 2016 and running through 2019. To date, NASA has selected 105 CubeSats from 30 states. Thirty-seven CubeSats have been launched, and 16 more are scheduled to go into space in the next 12 months.
The agency has made progress on a goal established during the White House Maker Faire last year to launch a small satellite from at least one participant in each state over the next five years. For this round, NASA is focusing on gaining participation in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 20 states not previously selected for the CubeSat Launch Initiative. These states are: Arkansas,Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.
CubeSats are in a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites. The base CubeSat dimensions are 10x10x11 centimeters (about 4x4x4 inches), which equals one Cube, or 1U. CubeSats supported by this launch effort include volumes of 1U, 2U, 3U and 6U. CubeSats of 1U, 2U and 3U size typically have a mass of 1.33 kilograms (about three pounds) per 1U. A 6U CubeSat typically has a mass of 12 to 14 kilograms (26.5 to 30.9 pounds). The CubeSat's final mass depends on the selected deployment method.
For additional information about NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Beyond the Board: Orbital High Ground—Why Space Superiority Is Slipping Away
06/17/2025 | Jesse Vaughan -- Column: Beyond the Board“The next war might be won—or lost—22,000 miles above Earth.” That’s not science fiction. It’s the stark reality defense planners are beginning to confront as space transitions from a support domain to a full-spectrum warfighting environment. For decades, the United States held an uncontested advantage in space, relying on exquisite, few, and highly capable systems to enable precision warfare, real-time intelligence, and global communications. Today, that edge is under siege.
IPC Report Recaps Imperatives in Global Chip Race
05/19/2025 | IPCWith funding awards under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act currently under review, IPC just shared a new Industry Intelligence Report focused on the issues and players involved.
Toshiba Commemorates Earth Day Throughout Calendar
04/22/2025 | ToshibaToshiba America Business Solutions celebrates Earth Day 2025 by facilitating the continuous reforestation of trees throughout eco-sensitive areas globally and preserving open land from e-waste.
Hon Hai Product Chief Xiao Caiyou Elected as Member of the Board of Directors of the NAM
04/15/2025 | Hon Hai Technology GroupHon Hai Technology Group, the world’s largest technology manufacturing and service provider, announced that Jerry Hsiao, Chief Product Officer and General Manager of the U.S. Regional Headquarters, has been invited by the National Association of Manufacturers ( NAM ) to officially join the NAM Board of Directors to help promote the competitiveness of the U.S. manufacturing industry and related policy initiatives.
TSMC Intends to Expand Its Investment in the United States to $165 Billion to Power the Future of AI
03/04/2025 | TSMCTSMC announced its intention to expand its investment in advanced semiconductor manufacturing in the United States by an additional $100 billion.