NASA - Announcement of CubeSat Launch Initiative

The NASA 'Announcement of CubeSat Launch Initiative' anticipates that launch opportunities for a limited number of CubeSats may be available on launches currently planned for 2011 and 2012.

These launch opportunities would constitute a pilot project intended to demonstrate viable launch opportunities for CubeSat payloads as auxiliary payloads on planned missions.

The pilot project is intended to support, and will be limited to, CubeSat development efforts conducted under existing NASA-supported activities. The pilot project will be open to not-for-profit and educational organizations ('collaborators').

A CubeSat is a type of space research nanosatellite, the base CubeSat dimension is 10x10x11 centimeters (one “Cube” or “1U”). CubeSats typically range from one to three Cubes (10x10x34 centimeters) in volume and typically weigh no more than one kilogram per 1U Cube.

Collaborators will be required to provide partial reimbursement of the launch and integration costs ($30,000 per 1U cube) associated with their participation in the pilot project

Electronic Proposals must be received by April 15, 2010 at 4:30 P.M. EST via email to jason.c.crusan@nasa.gov

Read NASA's Announcement of CubeSat Launch Initiative at
http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/
synopsis.cgi?acqid=139845