National Aeronautics and Space Administration

ELaNa 16 International Space Station CubeSat Deployment Launched November 2018 – Deployed February 2019 OVERVIEW NASA enabled the deployment of a small research sat- ellite, or CubeSat, developed by NASA working in con- Basic CubeSat Facts: junction with a university. This CubeSat mission was selected through the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI). • CubeSats are small research spacecraft The Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) 16 mission embarked on Northrup Grumman’s 10th Com- called nanosatellites mercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station contracted by NASA, guided to space on • Built to standard dimensions of 1 unit (1U), an Antares rocket that will lifted off Nov. 17 from Wal- which is equal to 10x10x10 cm lops Flight Facility in Virginia at 4:01 a.m. EST. Over the past six years, students have been involved in the design, • Can be 1U, 2U, 3U or 6U in size development, and construction of this CubeSat that was • Typically, weighs less than 3 lbs (1.33 kg) deployed from the space station via the commercially- per U – 6U may be up to 6.3 lbs (14 kg) developed NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer, or NRCSD. • Deployed from standard dispensers CubeSats are playing an increasingly larger role in ex- ploration, technology demonstrations, scientifc research and educational investigations at NASA. These miniature satellites provide a low-cost platform for NASA missions, including planetary space exploration; Earth observa- tion; fundamental Earth and space science; and tech- nology demonstrations such as cutting-edge laser com- munications, energy storage, in-space propulsion and autonomous movement capabilities. They also provide educators an inexpensive means to engage students in all phases of satellite development, operation and exploi- tation through real-world, hands-on research and devel- NASA facts opment experience on NASA-funded ride-share launch opportunities. CSLI enables the launch of CubeSat projects designed, CUBESAT DEPLOYMENT built and operated by students, teachers and faculty, In preparation for deployment, the CubeSat was placed as well as NASA Centers and nonproft organizations. inside the NRCSD, a stackable, modular, ground-loaded Managed by the Launch Services Program at NASA’s launch dispenser. Built by NanoRacks, LLC in Webster, Kennedy Space Center in Florida, ELaNa missions pro- Texas, each deployer accommodates up to 6.5U of Cube- vide a deployment opportunity or ride-share launch to Sat volume. Astronauts aboard the space station stack space for CubeSats selected through CSLI. ELaNa mis- the NRCSDs into an eight-dispenser confguration, which sion managers and their teams engage schools and are then mounted on the Japanese Experiment Module colleges across the United States, providing spacefight airlock slide table and moved outside of the station. The education through the preparation of payloads (licensing, robotic arm captures the table and positions the facil- integration and testing) fown in space. Since its incep- ity toward Earth. After NASA and the Japan Aerospace tion in 2010, the initiative has selected more than 175 Exploration Agency (JAXA) provide approval to proceed, CubeSats and launched 85 CubeSat missions primarily the NRCSDs are commanded one-by-one. The dispenser developed by educational and government institutions doors open and the large internal spring releases, de- around the United States. These miniature satellites were ploying the CubeSat into an orbit 400 km above Earth, prioritized and selected through a formal NASA review slightly lower than the space station. After 30 minutes of proposals submitted in response to CSLI announce- in orbit, the internal timers on the CubeSat allow its on- ments. NASA announced another call for proposals in board computer to activate and begin transmitting. The early August 2019. CubeSat team utilizes ground stations to listen for a bea- con to determine the small satellite’s functionality and operational status. CubeSat missions are anticipated to last at least 120 days, although durations sometimes vary. Upon mission completion, the CubeSat begins a fnal fall through Earth’s atmosphere, where tremendous heat generated by friction causes them to disintegrate.

SAFETY AND MISSION ASSURANCE The CubeSat developer verifed that their satellite was compliant with the NRCSD requirements. Each ELaNa CubeSat complies with U.S. and NASA orbital debris mitigation standard practices.

Simulated Sprite deployment. Credit: Zac Manchester

KickSat-2 NASA Ames Research Center – Moffett Field, California Stanford University – Stanford, California KickSat-2 is a CubeSat technology demonstration mission designed to demonstrate the deployment and operation of prototype Sprite “ChipSats” (femtosatellites). The mission tests 100 Sprite ChipSats demonstrating that tiny, massively distributed satellites using commercial off-the-shelf tech- nology can work in space. The Sprite includes power, sensor, and communication systems on a printed circuit board measuring 3.5 by 3.5 cm with a thickness of a few millimeters and a mass of a few grams. ChipSats like the Sprite represent a disruptive new space technology that could enable new kinds of science and exploration missions, as well as dramatically lower the cost of access to space. Sprites have been developed and tested to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5-6 and an orbital demonstration will advance the Sprite to at least TRL 7.

To contact the ELaNa XVI Launch Public Affairs Office, call 202-358-1100 For more information about KickSat-2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7xvQgClMf0

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Headquarters 300 E Street, SW Washington, DC 20546 www.nasa.gov