Student and amateur CubeSat news roundup – Sept.9.2019

A sampling of recent articles, press releases, etc. related to student and amateur CubeSat / SmallSat projects and programs (find previous smallsat roundups here):

** HARP cubesat developed by Utah State and Univ. Maryland at Baltimore County teams will measure  aerosol and cloud properties of the atmosphere: Space Dynamics Lab Delivers Small Satellite in Preparation for Launch to ISS

Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory announced today that it has delivered a small satellite designed for NASA to measure the microphysical properties of cloud water and ice particles.

The HARP CubeSat satellite was built by SDL to carry the HyperAngular Rainbow Polarimeter payload built by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County under the direction of principal investigator J. Vanderlei Martins. HARP is currently being prepared for launch by International Space Station small satellite launch service provider NanoRacks, LLC. HARP is scheduled to launch to the ISS in October aboard Northrop Grumman’s robotic resupply space freighter Cygnus at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. HARP will be ejected into space following its placement on the ISS.

HARP Cubesat

** More about the Arizona State Univ. Phoenix cubesat project: ASU students create miniature space satellite that can track climate change – msn.com

** AMSAT news on student and amateur CubeSat/smallsat projects: ANS-251 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin

  • AMSAT Board of Directors Election Ballots Due September 15
  • 2019 AMSAT Space Symposium Preliminary Schedule Now Available
  • 2019 AMSAT Symposium Early-Bird Registration Ends September 15
  • DM02 Satellite Expedition Sunday, September 22 – N6O/MM
  • VUCC Awards & Endorsements for August 2019
  • How to Support AMSAT
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Satellite Shorts from All Over

General CubeSat/SmallSat info:

SmallSat [Conference] was last week which meant a flurry of announcements. This year was launch heavy, so I break down some announcements from SpaceX, Arianespace, and Rocket Lab.

====

Introduction to CubeSat Technology and Subsystem:
Orbit Design, Debris Impact, and Orbital Decay Prediction