NASA Announces Next Opportunity for CubeSat Space Missions

Aug. 13, 2012

Joshua Buck
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
jbuck@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 12-277

NASA ANNOUNCES NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR CUBESAT SPACE MISSIONS

WASHINGTON -- NASA is seeking proposals for small satellite payloads
to fly on rockets planned to launch between 2013 and 2016. These
miniature spacecraft, known as CubeSats, could be auxiliary payloads
on previously planned missions.

CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites.
These cube-shaped satellites are approximately four inches long, have
a volume of about one quart and weigh less than three pounds.

Proposed CubeSat investigations must be consistent with NASA's
Strategic Plan and the NASA education vision and goals. The research
must address aspects of science, exploration, technology development,
education or operations.

Applicants must submit proposals electronically by 4:30 p.m. EST, Nov.
12. NASA will select the payloads by Jan. 31, 2013. Selection does
not guarantee a launch opportunity. The selected spacecraft will be
eligible for flight after final negotiations when a launch
opportunity arises. NASA will not provide funding for the development
of the small satellites.

NASA recently announced the results from the third round of the
CubeSat Launch Initiative. From the first three launch initiatives,
64 payloads made the short list for launch opportunities between 2011
and 2014. They are eligible for launch pending an appropriate
opportunity and final negotiations. The satellites come from 25
states: Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii,
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Mexico,
New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia.

For additional information about NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative
program, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/puk9K2

and

http://go.nasa.gov/CubeSatOp

For information about NASA's Strategic Plan, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/budget

For more about NASA's Education Strategic Coordination Framework,
visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/nRCvjH


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