NASA notifies industry of CubeSat launch opportunities from 2016 to 2019

GREENBELT, Md., 13 Aug. 2015. Space exploration experts at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are inviting government researchers, non-profits, and schools to propose tiny satellite spacecraft and missions to be scheduled over the next four years.

Officials of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., announced a CubeSat Launch Initiative last week (NNH15HEOMD001L) offering launch opportunities for a limited number of CubeSats from 2016 to 2019.

Launches would be as auxiliary payloads on rockets or from the International Space Station. CubeSat launch opportunities are for NASA centers, U.S. not-for-profit organizations, and accredited U.S. educational organizations.

CubeSats are softball-sized unmanned spacecraft for space research. CubeSat sizes range from about 64 to 384 cubic inches and weigh between 3 and 32 pounds. Proposed CubeSats must address an aspect of science, technology development, education, or operations that meet NASA goals.

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Organizations that wish to propose CubeSat missions should email responses no later than 24 Nov. 2015 to NASA's Jason Crusan at [email protected].

For questions or concerns contact NASA's Anne Sweet by email at [email protected], or by phone at 202-358-3784.

More information about NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative is online at www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/home/CubeSats_initiative.

More information about proposing CubeSat missions is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/HQ/OPHQDC/NNH15HEOMD001L/listing.html.