University Nanosatellite Program

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.[2]

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.[3]

Program Cycles

Nanosat-1/Nanosat-2

Events and Milestones:

  • December 2004. Sparkie and Ralphie launch on the inaugural Delta-IV Heavy[5]

Nanosat-3

The Nanosat-3 cycle started in 2003 when 13 universities were chosen to compete. The panel selected the University of Texas at Austin’s Formation Autonomous Spacecraft with Thruster, Relative-Navigation, Attitude and Crosslink or FASTRAC satellite(s) as the winner.[2]

Events and Milestones:

  • November 19, 2010. University of Texas FASTRAC spacecraft launches on a Minotaur IV[8]

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.[2]

Events and Milestones:

  • March 2007. Nanosat-4 Flight Competition Review where CUSat named winner
  • September 29, 2013. Cornell University's CUSat launched successfully.[10]

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.[2]

Events and Milestones:

  • January 2009. Nanosat-5 Flight Competition Review where DANDE named winner
  • September 29, 2013. DANDE launches on Falcon-9[11]

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:

  • January 2009. Kickoff
  • January 2011. Flight Competition Review[12]
  • June 25, 2019. Michigan Tech's Oculus-ASR satellite launches on Falcon-9 Heavy[15]

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]

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]

Nanosat-10

In November 2021, three universities were notified of selection for flight when each program's satellite is ready for launch.[28]

Nanosat-11

The Nanosat-11 competition was announced in August 2021.[33] Participants were notified by AFRL of onward inclusion in the Nanosat-11 effort on November 23, 2021[28]

See also
  • "University Nanosat Program". universitynanosat.org. Retrieved February 4, 2023.

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

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