The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s University Nanosatellite Program will team up with NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative to launch a new Mission Concept Program.
The organizations chose eight universities to participate in the program, which will provide hands-on space mission development and design training to students, AFRL said Friday.
UNP has partnered with more than 40 universities since it began in 1999. The collaboration between UNP and CubeSat Launch aims to overcome challenges in areas such as proposals, scheduling, and full satellite development.
The program’s trainees will be prepped for the 2024 UNP nanosatellite cycle.
Universities were selected based on their proposals’ relevance to NASA and the Department of Defense, as well as their impact on their school and in education in general. Half of the chosen schools are minority-serving institutions.
The participating organizations are:
- Columbia University
- Florida Institute of Technology
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
- New Mexico State University
- Tarleton State University
- University of New Mexico
- University of South Florida
- University of the Virgin Islands
