Taylor Satellite Set For Launch
Upland, Ind. — A small satellite designed and built by Taylor University engineering students has is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral on Sunday, March 16, between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m.
The Taylor satellite, or CubeSat, will be aboard a rocket built by SpaceX and will fly with other small satellites designed and built by Ames Research Laboratory, Colorado Space Grant Consortium, and Cornell University. The satellites were chosen by NASA as part of its ELaNa V (Education Launch of Nanosatellite – 5th launch) program.
A number of Taylor faculty, staff and students plan to attend the launch and are scheduled to depart for Florida later this week.
The launch can be viewed live at http://www.ustream.tv/nasaedge. In case of launch delay, alternate launch dates include March 17, 19, and 20.
CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites. The cube-shaped satellites are approximately four inches long, have a volume of about one quart and weigh less than three pounds. Taylor’s CubeSat includes instrumentation that will test communications between other satellites and measure plasma in low earth orbit.
Taylor’s CubeSat emerged from a field of 33 designs and proposals fielded by NASA during a nationwide competition. After launch, the CubeSats will conduct technology demonstrations, educational research or science missions.
When Taylor’s satellite flies, it will mark the third such piece of space hardware to fly into space that was designed and built by students in Taylor’s engineering program. Additionally, five Taylor Physics and Engineering students presented the ELEO (Extremely Low Earth Orbit) Satellite Project at the CubeSat Workshop, Small Sat Conference and Air Force Design Review in Logan, Utah. Taylor officials believe a fourth Taylor CubeSat will be approved for flight as part of that program.
According to Principal Investigator Dr. Hank Voss, Taylor was the only university in the competition where the student work was performed exclusively by undergraduate students. Taylor students, faculty and staff have also pioneered the use of weather balloons for near space exploration – a program that has been replicated at numerous universities, secondary schools and businesses.
