Nuts and Volts - June 2015

All Aboard!

With few exceptions, if you've ever wanted to launch a satellite into earth orbit, you paid for the rocket and launch services. This was in many cases a one-time service, so an expensive proposition. Now, organizations are creating opportunities to launch CubeSats and make their access to space more affordable. Let's look at NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative (or CSLI) for the first example.

The CSLI is an initiative to carry CubeSats as auxiliary payloads on space missions already planned for launch. For a CubeSat to qualify, its mission must meet with NASA's Strategic Plan to expand our knowledge and capabilities in space, increase our understanding of Earth, and meet America's goals in space through the effective use of people and technology.

Through CSLI, NASA is introducing opportunities for greater numbers of post-secondary students to receive a stronger STEM education and employment in STEM-related fields. This means that if you're currently in or about ready to attend college, you have more opportunities to do NASA-related research by getting a CubeSat of your school's design launched into space. NASA calls these launches of CubeSats ELaNa Missions, or Educational Launch of Nanosatellites.

Since ELaNa began launching CubeSats in 2011, there have been eight launches and 36 CubeSat missions deployed, although four CubeSats failed to achieve orbital velocity.

Over 100 school, non-profit, and government institution CubeSats have been selected. Those launched so far include satellites to study the use of smart phones for space communications, measure space weather and radiation, and the deployment of ChipSats — or 1.5" by 1.5" satellites on a chip. Even a high school (Thomas Jefferson High School in Alexandria, VA) has launched a CubeSat onboard an ELaNa mission.

You can read more information on ELaNa at www.nasa.gov/ directorates/heo/home/CubeSats_ initiative.html.

Last year, NASA announced another goal for CSLI: launching 50

CubeSats for 50 states in five years.

It's part of a White House Maker Initiative to encourage the increasing population of space enthusiasts to contribute towards space exploration. Making us a space exploration nation — how exciting is that? The program

CubeSats continue to grow in their importance and impact. Although initially dismissed by some as a toy, CubeSats are fulfilling roles carried out by larger satellites from decades past. This month, I'll acquaint readers with some ways CubeSats are reaching space and making personal space exploration a reality.