University Nanosatellite Program Explained

The University Nanosat Program is a satellite design and fabrication competition for universities. It is jointly administered by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the Space Development and Test Wing and the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate's Spacecraft Technology division.[1] NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center was involved from the program inception through Nanosat-3.

The UNP is a recurring competition that involves two phases. The first phase (Phase A) occurs as university teams initially respond to a solicitation posted by the UNP program or one of its partner organizations. The solicitation results in a competition for selection for that program cycle. Typically 10-11 awards are made during this initial phase. Grants are offered to the awardees to participate in a rigorous two-year process to design and develop their satellite concept. At the end of the two years, a Flight Competition Review is held where judges evaluate each program's progress and readiness to move to the next phase. Winners from each cycle are offered launch by AFRL when the systems are ready for flight. Other U.S. Government agencies, such as NASA through the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) initiative, also step in to offer launch opportunities when available. Since 1999, there have been 11 cycles of the program.

The program's objective is to train tomorrow's space professionals by providing a rigorous two year concept to flight-ready spacecraft competition for U. S. higher education institutions and to enable small satellite research and development (R&D), integration and flight test. Approximately 5,000 college students and 40 institutions of higher learning have been involved in this unique experience since its inception in 1999.[2]

Program Cycles

Nanosat-1/Nanosat-2

Constellation Pathfinder

Solar Blade Nanosat

Emerald and Orion

Emerald and Orion

USUSat

HokieSat

DAWGSTAR

Events and Milestones:

Nanosat-3

The Nanosat-3 cycle started in 2003 when 13 universities were chosen to compete. The panel selected theUniversity of Texas at Austin’s Formation Autonomous Spacecraft with Thruster, Relative-Navigation, Attitude and Crosslink or FASTRAC satellite(s) as the winner.

Events and Milestones:

Nanosat-4

In March 2005, eleven universities were chosen from the submitted proposals to compete in the Nanosat-4 Phase B effort. CUSat was selected the winner of the cycle in March 2007.[8]

KNIGHTSAT

BEARSat

MinneSAT

NMSUSat 2

ONYX

AggieSat1

ARTEMIS

TOROID

Events and Milestones:

Nanosat-5

The Nanosat-5 competition began in January 2007 with 11 universities being selected from 26 proposal submissions. The University of Colorado at Boulder’s Drag and Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment or DANDE was selected to continue on toward launch.[8]

Events and Milestones:

Nanosat-6

The Nanosat-6 Program Flight Competition Review was sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A panel of judges from the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Test Program, Air Force Institute of Technology and industry selected the winners identified in the table below.[12]

Events and Milestones:

Nanosat-7

Eleven schools were selected to pursue the Nanosat-7 opportunity:[12]

Nanosat-8

The Nanosat-8 cycle started in late 2012 with the selection of 10 competing schools. AFRL announced the winners of the Nanosat-8 cycle in February 2015. The first four winners included Missouri University of Science and Technology, the University of Colorado at Boulder, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Taylor University respectively. With a tie for fifth spot, Boston University and State University of New York at Buffalo teams will support deep-dive visits from judges to each program for a tie-breaker decision.[19]

CHOMPTT

INCA

Nanosat-9

The Nanosat-9 Flight Selection Review process resulted in selection of the University of Georgia MOCI payload as winner with the University of Colorado at Boulder's MAXWELL coming in second.[24]

APEX[27]

Nanosat-10

In November 2021, three universities were notified of selection for flight when each program's satellite is ready for launch.

Nanosat-11

The Nanosat-11 competition was announced in August 2021.[32] Participants were notified by AFRL of onward inclusion in the Nanosat-11 effort on November 23, 2021[33]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: University Nanosatellite Program . 2008-06-22 . US Air Force . AFRL.
  2. Web site: About the University Nanosatellite Program. universitynanosat.org. February 4, 2023.
  3. Web site: Three Corner Satellite . https://web.archive.org/web/20010605192622/http://threecornersat.jpl.nasa.gov/ . dead . 2001-06-05 . 2008-07-13 . NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory . NASA.
  4. Web site: Delta 4-Heavy investigation identifies rocket's problem . 2014-01-30.
  5. Web site: Students' satellites win right to space flight . https://archive.today/20090618235359/http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2005/01/21/University/Students.Satellites.Win.Right.To.Space.Flight-837585.shtml . dead . 2009-06-18 . Torres . Juliana . The Daily Texan . 2005-01-21 . 2008-07-13 .
  6. The New Mexico State University Satellite (NMSUSat) Mission. August 2003. February 4, 2023. Small Satellite Conference 2003. Horan . Stephen . Stochaj . S. . Alvarez . L. . Ege . W. . Romero . V. . Zamarron . F. . Boehmer . C. . Cecil . J. . Clark . J. . Guyer . G. . Johnson . E. . Ranade . S. . Riley . L. .
  7. News: FASTRAC satellites survive orbit. February 24, 2011. University of Texas. February 4, 2023.
  8. Web site: University Nanosat Program. September 2011 . February 4, 2023.
  9. Web site: Cornell University Chosen To Build Nanosat-4 Flight Experiment. April 4, 2007. spacedaily.com. February 4, 2023.
  10. Web site: CUSat, launched Sept. 29 2013. October 28, 2013. Cornell University. February 4, 2023.
  11. News: DANDE Launches: Students Engaged in Mission Operations. Colorado Communicator. February 4, 2023.
  12. Web site: Nanosat-6 Flight Competition Review winners announced and Nanosat-7 Competition begins. Air Force Office of Scientific Research. 4 March 2011.
  13. Web site: Blast Off! Tech Students' Winning Satellite to Be Launched into Orbit. Marcia . Goodrich. January 20, 2011. Michigan Technological University. February 4, 2023.
  14. Web site: SCARAB:Integration of the COPPER and Argus Spacecraft. Tom. Moline. Wesley. Gardner. Summer 2012. February 5, 2023.
  15. News: Satellite built by Michigan Tech students launches into space aboard Falcon Heavy rocket. June 26, 2019. Benjamin. Raven. mlive.com. February 4, 2023.
  16. Web site: Krebs. Gunter D.. Prox 1 (Nanosat 7). Gunter's Space Page. February 5, 2023.
  17. Web site: BUSat. Boston University. February 5, 2023.
  18. Web site: Argus: Space Radiation on Modern Electronics. St. Louis University. February 5, 2023.
  19. News: AFRL announces winners of student satellite competition. February 2, 2015 . AFRL. February 4, 2023.
  20. News: Missouri S&T satellite team wins national Air Force competition. Peter . Ehrhard. January 30, 2015. Missouri S&T University. February 4, 2023.
  21. Web site: RECONnaissance of Space Objects. Georgia Tech. February 5, 2023.
  22. Web site: UB students to build a third space debris observation satellite. Cory . Nealon. February 10, 2016. University of Buffalo. February 4, 2023.
  23. News: Embry-Riddle wins grant to design satellite. Deborah. Circelli. January 13, 2013. February 4, 2023. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
  24. Web site: UGA Satellite Team Closer to Space. Alan . Flurry. January 29, 2018. Athens Banner-Herald. February 4, 2023.
  25. Web site: Student satellite team a step closer to space. 25 January 2018. Uga.edu.
  26. Web site: MAXWELL - University Nanosat Program. University of Colorado - Boulder. February 4, 2023.
  27. Web site: Design and Testing of the Flight Computer for a SmallSat Propulsion System Testbed. Daniel. Newberry . Missouri University of Science and Technology. February 5, 2023.
  28. News: AFRL Selects University of Minnesota for Prestigious Satellite Program. February 4, 2023. University of Minnesota.
  29. News: Texas A&M student-led satellite team prepares for space. January 24, 2022 . Felysha . Walker . Texas A&M University. February 4, 2023.
  30. Web site: Then There Were Three: Stratus Nanosatellite Launch for MTU's Aerospace EnterpriseKim Geiger. October 15, 2021. February 4, 2023.
  31. News: SLU Takes 'DORRE' Mission to National Nanosatellite Competition. Bridjes . O'Neil. August 26, 2021. February 4, 2023. St. Louis University.
  32. Web site: Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) Request for Proposals for the Government Fiscal Year (GFY) 2022 NS-11 University Nanosatellite Program (UNP). Space Dynamics Laboratory. August 9, 2021. February 4, 2023.
  33. News: AFRL selects 10 universities for prestigious satellite program. November 23, 2021. Joanne . Perkins. AFRL. February 4, 2023.
  34. The CubeSat Communication Platform (CCP) – Mission Overview and ConOps. C. . Vaskaa. J. . Mulleta. J. . Longb. D. . Thorsena. O. . Kegegeb. Y. . Wongb. Q.. Luebke-Laroquea. K. . O’Neilla. C. . Emerson. 16th International Conference on Space Operations, 3 - 5 May 2021. May 5, 2021. NASA. February 4, 2023.
  35. Web site: Small satellite, big mission. February 7, 2022. University at Buffalo. February 5, 2023.
  36. Web site: FLaC-Sat. Purdue University. February 4, 2023.
  37. Web site: Rutgers selected by the Airforce to build a CubeSat. Rutgers University. February 4, 2023.
  38. Web site: SERPENT (Satellite Evaluation of Relative Pose Estimation of a Non-cooperative Target). University of Texas at Austin. February 5, 2023.

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