GDFAU joins NASA for university nanosatellite project

GDFAU joins NASA for university nanosatellite project
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 18, 2024

Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science has been chosen as one of eight U.S. university teams to collaborate with NASA and the U.S. military. This partnership aims to boost innovation and expertise in the small satellite sector through the 2024 Mission Concept Program.

The program, a part of NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI), involves cooperation with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force to utilize nanosatellites. These are research spacecraft about the size of a 4-inch cube, usually weighing less than 5 pounds, and are instrumental in space research due to their size and cost-effectiveness.

From May to August, the University Nanosatellite Program (UNP) will offer systems engineering training for spacecraft development to students. It is tailored to enhance small satellite project proposals, significantly increasing the likelihood of these technologies being launched into space. The program also seeks to cultivate space industry-ready skills among students while increasing small satellite capabilities among faculty.

"We are incredibly excited and proud to have been selected to work with NASA and the U.S. military to help revolutionize the space domain with tiny yet powerful small satellite technology," said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science. "Importantly, this initiative will offer participating students invaluable systems engineering training specific to spacecraft development and is part of NASA's broader strategy to engage and retain students in STEM fields to build a robust pipeline of talent in the aerospace sector."

Participants will initially gather at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a four-day meeting in May, followed by seven weeks at the Air Force's University Nanosatellite Program facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Here, students will work closely with the Space Dynamics Laboratory, receiving direct mentorship and guidance from small satellite experts.

The initiative will conclude with final presentations in Albuquerque, and attendees are encouraged to participate in the Small Satellite Conference in Logan, Utah, in August.

Leading the FAU team are Oscar M. Curet, Ph.D., associate professor at the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, and George Sklivanitis, Ph.D., Schmidt Research Associate Professor at FAU's Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering. Their expertise spans across fluid dynamics, autonomous radios, and connected robotics.

Selected students for the FAU UNP include Vitas Diktanas, Sky Rueff, and Jonathan Mazurkiewicz, focusing on aerospace and computer engineering.

The 2024 Mission Concept Program not only provides necessary funding for all related travel but also enables faculty and students to collaborate effectively without financial pressure. This program is one of the ways NASA aims to maintain interest and expertise in STEM fields, crucial for the agency's and nation's future workforce.

The structured phases of the UNP, from design to mission operations, are strategically set to maximize the success rate of these educational satellite missions.