Educational Launch of Nanosatellites

Last updated

Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) is an initiative created by NASA to attract and retain students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. [1] The program is managed by the Launch Services Program (LSP) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Contents

NASA and Firefly Aerospace are planning to launch eight CubeSats as part of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) ELaNa (Educational Launch of Nanosatellites) 43, targeting no earlier than Wednesday, June 26. [2]

Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket, in a mission dubbed “Noise of Summer,” will lift off from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Overview

Engineers processing a CubeSat at a facility of Rocket Lab. CeREs VCLS CubeSat 0002 (26563127467).jpg
Engineers processing a CubeSat at a facility of Rocket Lab.

The ELaNa initiative has made partnerships with universities in the US to design and launch small research satellites called CubeSats (because of their cube shape). These low-cost CubeSat missions provide NASA with valuable opportunities to test emerging technologies that may be useful in future space missions, while university students get to be involved in all phases of the mission, from instrument and satellite design, to launch and monitoring.

A CubeSat has a cubic shape measuring 10 × 10 × 10 cm (1 unit or 1U), and can be fabricated of multiple cubic units such as 2U, 3U and 6U, and weighing 1.33 kg per unit. Because of the high cost incurred by launching them to orbit, ELaNa's satellites are launched as secondary payload on other missions that have mass and space to spare. Since the launch waiting list has grown considerably, another initiative was launched in 2015 in partnership with the private industry to develop launch vehicles dedicated to CubeSats exclusively. A new company is called Rocket Lab and their launch vehicle is the Electron rocket. [3] This agreement with NASA, enables the company to use NASA resources such as personnel, facilities and equipment for commercial launch efforts. [3] [4] In 2015, NASA contracted two other companies for this purpose: Firefly Space Systems and Virgin Galactic. [5] Nevertheless, NASA CubeSats will continue to hitch rides as secondary payloads in larger rockets whenever possible.

As of August 2017, NASA's ELaNa initiative has selected 151 CubeSat missions, 49 of which have been launched into space. [6]

Missions

ELaNa mission numbers are based on the order they are manifested; due to the nature of launching, the actual launch order differs from the mission numbers.

Launched missions

Future missions

List of future missions: [59] [60] [61]

Launch date (UTC)Mission nameNo. of CubeSatsMain mission and
CubeSats included		Launch vehicleLaunch site
March 2025ELaNa 61
2
(Transporter-13)
TRYAD-1, TRYAD-2		 Falcon 9 TBA
March 2025ELaNa 64
1
(Transporter-13)
REAL		 Falcon 9 TBA
TBAELaNa 56
1
(?)
ARCSTONE		TBATBA
TBAELaNa 53a
1
(?)
Dione		TBATBA
April 2025ELaNa 53b
1
(TRACERS)
SPRITE		 Falcon 9 TBA
TBAELaNa 42
6
(?)
AEPEX, DARLA, OrCa2, R5-S3, R5-S5, TechEdSat-16		TBATBA
TBAELaNa 46
1
(?)
TechEdSat-12		TBATBA
TBAELaNa 55
2
(?)
CANVAS, INCA-2		TBATBA
TBAELaNa 54
2
(?)
TechEdSat-22, VISORS		TBATBA
TBAELaNa 58
4
(?)
BLAST, EagleSat-2, QubeSat-2, RHOK-SAT		TBATBA
TBAELaNa 59
3
(?)
OpenOrbiter 1, R5-S6, SWARM-EX		TBATBA

Related Research Articles

The Space Test Program (STP) is the primary provider of spaceflight for the United States Department of Defense (DoD) space science and technology community. STP is managed by a group within the Advanced Systems and Development Directorate, a directorate of the Space and Missile Systems Center of the United States Space Force. STP provides spaceflight via the International Space Station (ISS), piggybacks, secondary payloads and dedicated launch services.

Explorer-1 [Prime], also known as E1P and Electra, was a CubeSat-class picosatellite built by the Space Science and Engineering Laboratory (SSEL) at Montana State University. It was launched aboard a Taurus-XL rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California on 4 March 2011, but failed to achieve orbit after the rocket malfunctioned.

Technology Education Satellite (TechEdSat) is a successful nano-sat flight series conducted from the NASA Ames Research Center in collaboration with numerous universities. While one of the principal aims has been to introduce young professionals and university students to the practical realm of developing space flight hardware, considerable innovations have been introduced. In addition, this evolving flight platform has tested concepts for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) sample return, as well as planetary nano-sat class mission concepts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-3</span> 2014 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX CRS-3, also known as SpX-3, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS), contracted to NASA, which was launched on 18 April 2014. It was the fifth flight for SpaceX's uncrewed Dragon cargo spacecraft and the third SpaceX operational mission contracted to NASA under a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antares A-ONE</span> 2013 American test spaceflight

Antares A-ONE mission was the maiden flight of Orbital Sciences Corporation' Antares launch vehicle including the ascent to space and accurate delivery of a simulated payload, the Cygnus Mass Simulator (CMS), which was launched 21 April 2013. It was launched from Pad 0A at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia. The simulated payload simulates the mass of the Cygnus cargo spacecraft. This dummy payload was sent into an orbit of 223 km × 237 km with an orbital inclination of 51.63°, the same launch profile it will use for Orbital's Cygnus cargo supply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus OA-4</span> Late 2015 cargo mission to the ISS

OA-4, previously known as Orbital-4, was the fourth successful flight of the Orbital ATK uncrewed resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its third flight to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract with NASA. With the Antares launch vehicle undergoing a redesign following its failure during the Orb-3 launch, OA-4 was launched by an Atlas V launch vehicle. Following three launch delays due to inclement weather beginning on 3 December 2015, OA-4 was launched at 21:44:57 UTC on 6 December 2015. With a liftoff weight of 7,492 kg (16,517 lb), OA-4 became the heaviest payload ever launched on an Atlas V. The spacecraft rendezvoused with and was berthed to the ISS on 9 December 2015. It was released on 19 February 2016 after 72 days at the International Space Station. Deorbit occurred on 20 February 2016 at approximately 16:00 UTC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunar IceCube</span> Nanosatellite launched in 2022

Lunar IceCube is a NASA nanosatellite orbiter mission that was intended to prospect, locate, and estimate amount and composition of water ice deposits on the Moon for future exploitation. It was launched as a secondary payload mission on Artemis 1, the first flight of the Space Launch System (SLS), on 16 November 2022. As of February 2023 it is unknown whether NASA team has contact with satellite or not.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus OA-7</span> Early 2017 cargo mission to the ISS

OA-7, previously known as Orbital-7, is the eighth flight of the Orbital ATK uncrewed resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its seventh flight to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. The mission launched on 18 April 2017 at 15:11:26 UTC. Orbital and NASA jointly developed a new space transportation system to provide commercial cargo resupply services to the International Space Station (ISS). Under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, then Orbital Sciences designed and built Antares, a medium-class launch vehicle; Cygnus, an advanced maneuvering spacecraft, and a Pressurized Cargo Module which is provided by Orbital's industrial partner Thales Alenia Space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus NG-11</span> Mid-2019 cargo mission to the ISS

NG-11, previously known as OA-11, is the twelfth flight of the Northrop Grumman robotic resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its eleventh flight to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract with NASA. The mission launched on 17 April 2019 at 20:46:07 UTC. This is the last mission from the extended CRS-1 contract; follow-up missions are part of the CRS-2 contract. Cygnus NG-11 was also the first mission to load critical hardware onto Cygnus within the last 24 hours prior to launch, a new Antares feature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firefly Alpha</span> Two-stage operational orbital rocket, about 1,070 kg to LEO

Firefly Alpha is a two-stage orbital expendable small lift launch vehicle developed by the American company Firefly Aerospace to compete in the commercial small satellite launch market. Alpha is intended to provide launch options for both full vehicle and rideshare customers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TROPICS (spacecraft constellation)</span> NASA mission

TROPICS(Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats) is a 2023 NASA constellation of six small satellites, 3U CubeSats, that will measure temperature and moisture profiles and precipitation in tropical systems with unprecedented temporal frequency. This data will enable scientists to study the dynamic processes that occur in the inner core of the storm resulting in rapid genesis and intensification. William Blackwell of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts is the principal investigator. The constellation was initially planned to be delivered to orbit on three launches between June and July 2022. Due to the loss of the first two satellites after a launch failure in June 2022, the first satellites were delivered to orbit aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket on 7 May 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Repair Satellite Prototype</span> 2018 microsatellite with two robotic arms

RSat-P is a microsatellite built by the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland. The small spacecraft is a 3U CubeSat intended to demonstrate capabilities for minor in-orbit repair of a much larger, conventional spacecraft.

CubeSat Particle Aggregation and Collision Experiment (Q-PACE) or Cu-PACE, was an orbital spacecraft mission that would have studied the early stages of proto-planetary accretion by observing particle dynamical aggregation for several years.

NASA's Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) Project is a series of tech demonstrations of technologies aboard a series of nanosatellites known as CubeSats, providing significant enhancements to the performance of these versatile spacecraft. Each of the five planned PTD missions consist of a 6-unit (6U) CubeSat with expandable solar arrays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus NG-14</span> 2020 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

NG-14, previously known as OA-14, was the fifteenth flight of the Northrop Grumman robotic resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its fourteenth flight to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract with NASA. The mission was launched on 3 October 2020, at 01:16:14 UTC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus NG-15</span> 2021 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

Cygnus NG-15, previously known as OA-15, was the fifteenth launch of the Northrop Grumman robotic resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its fourteenth flight to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The mission launched on 20 February 2021 at 17:36:50 UTC. This is the fourth launch of Cygnus under the CRS-2 contract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-23</span> 2021 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX CRS-23, also known as SpX-23, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station, successfully launched on 29 August 2021 and docking the following day. The mission was contracted by NASA and was flown by SpaceX using the Cargo Dragon C208. This was the third flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2 contract awarded in January 2016. It was the second mission for this reusable capsule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-26</span> 2022 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX CRS-26, also known as SpX-26, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 26 November 2022. The mission was contracted by NASA and flown by SpaceX using a Cargo Dragon. This was the sixth flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2 contract awarded in January 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-27</span> 2023 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX CRS-27, also known as SpX-27, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 15 March 2023. The mission was contracted by NASA and was flown by SpaceX using Cargo Dragon C209. This was the seventh flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2.

References

  1. ↑ ELaNa: Educational Launch of Nanosatellites Archived 1 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine NASA, 2017 PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  2. ↑ "Educational Launch of Nanosatellites – Small Satellite Missions". blogs.nasa.gov. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  3. 1 2 Rocket Lab Signs NASA Partnership to Tap Launch Resources Caleb Henry 31 July 2015.
  4. ↑ Rocket Lab poised to provide dedicated launcher for CubeSat science Adam Mann, Science Magazine 6 December 2017
  5. ↑ Kathryn Hambleton; George H. Diller (14 October 2015). "NASA Awards Venture Class Launch Services Contracts for CubeSat Satellites". NASA. Retrieved 30 October 2015.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  6. ↑ NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative Broadens Access to Space for Educators, Nonprofits Archived 11 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine , NASA, 3 August 2017 PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  7. ↑ "CubeSat ELaNa Launch on Glory Mission" (PDF). nasa.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  8. ↑ ELaNa-I NASA, PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  9. ↑ "Factsheet" (PDF). nasa.gov.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  10. ↑ "Factsheet" (PDF). nasa.gov.[ permanent dead link ]PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  11. ↑ CUBESAT ELaNa VI LAUNCH ON L-36 Mission, NASA PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  12. ↑ "Factsheet" (PDF). nasa.gov.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  13. ↑ "All ORS-3 payloads" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "NASA Helps Launch Student-Built Satellites and latest PhoneSat as Part of CubeSat Launch Initiative". NASA. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  15. ↑ "ORS-3 Mission Fact Sheet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  16. ↑ CubeSat ELaNa IV Launch on ORS-3, NASA PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  17. ↑ "Factsheet" (PDF). nasa.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  18. ↑ "ELaNa II Mission Helps Launch Student-Built Satellites". NASA. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 November 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  19. ↑ "Factsheet" (PDF). nasa.gov.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  20. ↑ "NASA Launches the Dreams of the Crowd on the ELaNa V Mission as part of CubeSat Launch Initiative". NASA. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  21. ↑ ELaNa V CubeSat Launch on SpaceX-3 Mission. March 2014. NASA. PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  22. ↑ "Factsheet" (PDF). nasa.gov.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  23. ↑ "University Satellites Studying Space Weather and Climate Change Will Launch on NASA's ELaNa X Mission". NASA. 9 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 November 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  24. ↑ ELaNa 10 CubeSat Launch on SMAP Mission, NASA January 2015 PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  25. ↑ "Factsheet" (PDF). nasa.gov.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  26. ↑ "Factsheet" (PDF). nasa.gov.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  27. ↑ "ELaNa XII Launches 4 CubeSats into Orbit on NROL-55". NASA. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.[ permanent dead link ]PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  28. ↑ ELaNa CubeSat Launches Archived 1 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine , NASA PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  29. ↑ "Factsheet" (PDF). www.nasa.gov.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  30. ↑ Erin Mahoney, ed. (30 October 2015). "ELaNa VII CubeSat Launch on ORS-4 Mission". NASA. Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  31. ↑ "ORS-4" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  32. ↑ ELaNa VII CubeSat Launch on ORS-4 Mission Archived 24 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine , NASA 4 November 2015 PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  33. ↑ Clark, Stephen. "Air Force declares failure on Super Strypi test launch". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  34. ↑ "Factsheet" (PDF). nasa.gov.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  35. ↑ Mahoney, Erin (1 December 2015). "NASA ELaNa IX Mission Launches First CubeSat Built By Elementary School Students". CubeSat Launch Initiative. NASA. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2017.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  36. ↑ "Factsheet" (PDF). nasa.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 June 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  37. ↑ ELaNa XVII International Space Station CubeSat Deployment Archived 1 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine , NASA March 2017 PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  38. ↑ SpaceX Falcon 9 launches CRS-12 Dragon mission to the ISS, William Graham, NASA Spaceflight, 14 August 2017
  39. 1 2 3 Past ElaNa CubeSat Launches, NASA PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  40. ↑ Clark, Stephen (19 July 2018). "Launch schedule". SpaceFlight Now. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  41. ↑ ELaNa XV: Space Test Program-2 (STP-2) CubeSat Launch [ permanent dead link ]PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  42. ↑ "Virgin's satellite launcher reaches orbit on second try". Spaceflight Now. 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  43. ↑ Clark, Stephen (24 January 2021). "SpaceX smashes record with launch of 143 small satellites". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  44. ↑ Clark, Stephen (29 August 2021). "Live coverage: SpaceX launches space station cargo mission". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  45. ↑ "Atlas V Landsat 9". ULA . 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  46. ↑ Warren, Haygen (20 December 2021). "NASA, SpaceX launch CRS-24 to the International Space Station". NASASpaceFlight . Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  47. ↑ Wall, Mike (14 January 2022). "Virgin Orbit sends 7 satellites to orbit in fourth mid-air launch". Space.com . Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  48. ↑ Beil, Adrian (10 February 2022). "Astra suffers failure on ELaNa 41 mission". NASASpaceFlight . Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  49. ↑ Garcia, Mark (19 February 2022). "U.S. Cargo Craft Launches to Station for Monday Delivery". NASA . Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  50. ↑ Burghardt, Thomas (July 2022). "Virgin Orbit launches seven satellites for US Space Force and NASA". NASASpaceFlight . Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  51. ↑ Clark, Stephen (14 July 2022). "Live coverage: SpaceX launches space station cargo mission". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  52. ↑ Navin, Joseph (26 November 2022). "NASA, SpaceX launch CRS-26 mission to ISS". NASASpaceFlight . Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  53. ↑ Davenport, Justin (14 March 2023). "CRS-27 launches fresh cargo and experiments to ISS". NASASpaceFlight . Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  54. 1 2 Lentz, Danny (15 April 2023). "SpaceX Transporter-7 launches 51 payloads, booster return to LZ". NASASpaceFlight . Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  55. ↑ Lentz, Danny (4 March 2024). "SpaceX launches Transporter-10 rideshare from Vandenberg". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  56. ↑ Smith, Martin (21 March 2024). "SpaceX's 30th resupply mission uses new access tower at SLC-40 for the first time". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  57. ↑ "Alpha FLTA005 "Noise of Summer"".
  58. ↑ "NASA Sets Coverage for Northrop Grumman's 21st Station Resupply Launch - NASA" . Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  59. ↑ Phelps, Norman; Cheney, Liam. "CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) Update" (PDF). NASA . Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  60. ↑ Phelps, Norman; Cheney, Liam. "CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) Update" (PDF). NASA . Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  61. ↑ "Upcoming ElaNa CubeSat Launches". NASA . 3 July 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2022.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.