United Launch Alliance is giving colleges and universities the chance for their mini satellites to hitch a free ride into space on an Atlas V rocket.
through June 1. There are six slots available for the mini satellites, called CubeSats, on two Atlas V missions. The first launch is targeted for mid-2017.
Winning schools will be announced this summer, the Centennial-based company .
ULA announced the program at the state Capitol in November, when ULA president and CEO Tory Bruno offered the first CubeSat slot to the University of Colorado.
CubeSats are used for science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, educational projects. The cube-shaped satellites are small enough to hold in your hand.
“Universities pioneered CubeSat development, and there is a growing need for launch access and availability,” Bruno in a statement. “Our goal is to eventually add university CubeSat slots to nearly every Atlas and Vulcan Centaur launch — with potential for 100 rides per year.”
To date, ULA says it has launched 55 CubeSats.
The competition is open only to colleges and universities, but ULA is encouraging applicants to team up or perform outreach with K-12 schools. Judging criteria also include technical requirements and the mission objective.
The CubeSat program ensures “that the next generation of rocket scientists and space entrepreneurs has the opportunity to continue driving on-orbit innovation,” Bruno said in the statement.
Tyvak Nanosatellite Systems, based in Irvine, Calif., will provide the slots on the launches.
“Many members of our team came from university-level CubeSat programs, and we are all pleased to have the opportunity to work with ULA to help other university researchers gain critical access to space,” said Dr. Jordi Puig-Suari, Tyvak’s chief science officer, in a statement.
