Aug 13, 2012

Joshua Buck Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100 jbuck@nasa gov

RELEASE: 12-277

NASA ANNOUNCES NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR CUBESAT SPACE MISSIONS

WASHINGTON -- NASA is seeking proposals for small satellite payloads to fly on rockets planned to launch between 2013 and 2016 These miniature spacecraft, known as CubeSats, could be auxiliary payloads on previously planned missions

CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites These cube-shaped satellites are approximately four inches long, have a volume of about one quart and weigh less than three pounds

Proposed CubeSat investigations must be consistent with NASA's Strategic Plan and the NASA education vision and goals The research must address aspects of science, exploration, technology development, education or operations

Applicants must submit proposals electronically by 4:30 p m EST, Nov 12 NASA will select the payloads by Jan 31, 2013 Selection does not guarantee a launch opportunity The selected spacecraft will be eligible for flight after final negotiations when a launch opportunity arises NASA will not provide funding for the development of the small satellites

NASA recently announced the results from the third round of the CubeSat Launch Initiative From the first three launch initiatives, 64 payloads made the short list for launch opportunities between 2011 and 2014 They are eligible for launch pending an appropriate opportunity and final negotiations The satellites come from 25 states: Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia

For additional information about NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative program, visit:

http://go nasa gov/puk9K2

and

http://go nasa gov/CubeSatOp

For information about NASA's Strategic Plan, visit:

http://www nasa gov/budget

For more about NASA's Education Strategic Coordination Framework, visit:

http://go nasa gov/nRCvjH

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