A space-focused laboratory within Utah State University has developed a small satellite that would help NASA study cloud water and ice particles on microphysical levels.
USU Space Dynamics Laboratory’s cubesat would carry the HyperAngular Rainbow Polarimeter, an instrument that would introduce the ability to measure aerosol and cloud properties, USU said Thursday.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County developed the HARP payload with the leadership of J. Vanderlei Martins, the project’s principal investigator.
NanoRacks will launch USU’s satellite with the HARP payload on a Northrop Grumman-made Cygnus cargo spacecraft next month. Cygnus will transport the HARP satellite and payload to the International Space Station.
“Working together with Dr. Martins and his team at UMBC as well as the NASA Earth Science Technology Office is a great example of academia, industry and government working together to answer scientific questions for the benefit of mankind,†said Tim Neilsen, program manager for HARP at USU SDL.
