NSF Live: TINY SATS - NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative and Beyond

Live Q&A with Cubesat Engineers! NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative provides opportunities for small satellite payloads on upcoming rocket launches to conduct research that addresses science, exploration, technology development, education, or operations relevant to NASA’s strategic goals. This initiative aids in low-cost technology development and research, bridging strategic knowledge gaps and accelerating flight-qualified technology via partnerships among NASA, U.S. industry, and educational institutions.

Each cube-shaped satellite is approximately four inches long and weighs about 3 pounds. One proof-of-concept CubeSat demonstration called “Alpha Cubesat” was developed in collaboration with Cornell University, and is set to be released from the ISS in the coming year. Alpha will deploy the world’s first retroreflective light sail equipped with four computer chip-sized satellites, or “ChipSats,” which will collect data about the voyage and broadcast back to Earth, opening up new techniques for interstellar messages. Hear from NASA Marshall's Deputy Chief Technologist and members of the Alpha team as they discuss the role of CubeSats in technological innovation, and learn more about Alpha CubeSat in the new exhibit Postcards from Earth: Holograms on an Interstellar Journey, now on display at the Intrepid Museum!

For more info on these projects:

Today's show is hosted by Elysia Segal. Produced by Kevin Michael Reed

-----------------------------------------

GUEST BIOS:

John Carr - Deputy Chief Technologist, NASA Marshall

Dr. John Carr is MSFC’s Deputy Chief Technologist and the Principal Investigator for the LISA-T (Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and anTenna) flight project. After completing his undergraduate work in Electrical Engineering at Iowa State University, Dr. Carr began his career in private industry at the semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology, Inc. In 2009, Dr. Carr returned to Iowa State for graduate work, completing a Master’s degree in microfluidics engineering followed by a Doctorate in microelectronics and photonics. Dr. Carr then joined NASA in 2012 as a power system engineer. He quickly became involved with technology development and began leading thin-film solar array development in 2014. During this time, Dr. Carr also became engrained on MSFC’s solar sail team and worked on other entering developments such as the iodine small spacecraft and the pallet lander platform. In 2019, Dr. Carr joined MSFC’s office of the Chief Technologist, and he now serves as MSFC’s Deputy Chief Technologist, supporting all things technology for the center.

Joshua Umansky-Castro - Mission Manager, Alpha Cubesat

Joshua Umansky-Castro is a PhD Candidate in Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University. A member of Professor Mason Peck’s Space Systems Design Studio, Joshua manages the Alpha CubeSat mission and conducts research on the design of ChipSats (gram scale satellite-on-a-chip technology). Joshua earned his B.S.E. from Princeton University in 2017. Outside of the lab he is active in international development and engineering education: He's led and now mentors Engineers without Borders water projects in Peru and Tanzania, taught aircraft design at Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore, and mentored LigerSat, the first Cambodian CubeSat team.

Gillis Lowry - Publicity Lead, Alpha CubeSat

Giillis Lowry is an astronomy student at Cornell University. She works as Publicity Lead for the Alpha CubeSat project, as a part-time Planetarium Facilitator at the Saint Louis Science Center, and as President for the astronomy club at Fuertes Observatory. Over the past year, she has begun to conduct exoplanet research and write for the public as part of the Carl Sagan Institute. In her free time, Gillis likes to play viola and volunteer at the cat café.

-----------------------------------------

[KurgerBurger]

Without a doubt Elysia hit a home run with this discussion! As an old gomer engineer I was very impressed with everyone, especially the young scientists who will carry the torch for research for many decades to come. Dr. Carr has his ca-ca together but that's expected given his position. And super kudos to Elysia who kept the discussion going with intelligent and thought-provoking questions. Great job everyone!

[stevecoates]

Interesting topic that was nicely done, great job Elysia.

[Izz_]

Nice watched it all! Love satellites alot especially rockets, they explained alot things that are not visible when looking at a cubesat

[faisalsvideoworld]

Learnt alot about cubesats what a nsflive that was thanks elysia and co

[David-yows]

What a super show that was! I knew the word CubeSat, but this took the meaning behind what it represents to a whole new level. And the future looks exciting too. The sails going to Alpha Centauri taking 20 years is pretty radical. I won't be around if they come back to Earth. Unless I live to over 100 that is.
Just unbelievable watching the solar arrays fold up into a small square. Then the boom shrink into the CubeSat. 😲

[zevsiegel]

These longer episodes would be great to hear on podcast during tedious work. Do you put out a podcast?

[roslynrodriguez]

WonderfulPerfectly done StarshipRockets! Sooo excitong amd inspiring exploring Nars & Moon ! GreatHostory ever! Marvelous, Magmificent! FantasticFuture!

[markissboi]

students doing real test impressive balloon launch & release
Aussie scallywag i, m yet to put a small cam into a jar tied by a string to see the river below bit muddy atm in winter be clearer in summer min flow

[HectorRoldan]

This makes me want to design a WALL-E CubeSat that has x2 JWST fixtures and other instruments in its head mount and the ability to collect space debris and have some Send/Receive Functionality so an array of them can be used to get high resolution images to track inner stellar objects and start cleaning things up around our planet and then be moved onto other tasks. I'm no where near the aptitude in developing the whole project but I'm sure with enough people on the project, it could get done and even have an EVA Drone for it to link with that is the more Advanced System that can collect materials that go into larger systems that can reprocess the materials to make more CubeSats or other tools.

[markjames]

Stupid question, is it possible to see cubesats on a clear evening and are they illuminated?