NASA CubeSat Space Missions: Your Chance to Put a Satellite Experiment into Space

Have you ever had an idea, or thought about what you would do if you could put your own small satellite into Earth orbit? Now could be your chance as NASA has announced that it is accepting proposals for the CubeSat Launch Initiative.

What are CubeSats? NASA defines cubesats as “a class of cube-shaped research spacecraft called nanosatellites. They are approximately 4 inches long, have a volume of about 1 quart and weigh less than 3 pounds.”

As part of the CubeSat Launch Initiative, the space agency is looking for proposals to use these nanosatellites to carry-out scientific research and investigations which are “consistent with NASA’s strategic plan and educational vision and goals,” says NASA. To qualify as a candidate for a launch, the proposed research using a CubeSat should address specific aspects of science, exploration, technology development, education or operations.

To be considered for the next launch opportunity, proposals must be submitted electronically by 4:30 p.m. EST Nov. 26, 2013.NASA will select the best proposals from the submissions by Feb. 7, 2013 and launch of the CubeSat will take place as an auxiliary payload on a mission between 2014 and 2017.

This is the 5th time NASA has opened up the opportunity for proposals for CubeSat. 89 payloads have been selected from those proposals with 12 already in space. The remaining ones will have launch opportunities through 2016.

More information on NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative is available online at: http://go.nasa.gov/nXOuPI