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University of Alabama - Huntsville (UAH) CubeSat Parabolic Flight Testing
Completed
TRL 6 (started at 4, targeting 6)
Description
The UAHuntsville CubeSat is a student satellite development project to design, build, test, and operate an orbital picosatellite. The program has a primary focus of designing a 1U CubeSat system that accomplishes three primary technology demonstrations: (1) passive nadir axis stabilization for picosatellite attitude control, (2) improved communications for a stabilized 1U satellite system, and (3) deployable solar panels for increased solar power collection on a picosatellite system. The opportunity to perform microgravity deployment tests on a parabolic aircraft will increase the technology readiness level of the CubeSat deployment mechanisms to TRL 6 and will improve the understanding of how the deployable systems react in the unconstrained microgravity environment. This will allow mechanical functioning of the hardware and verification of the attitude stabilization modeling.
ChargerSat-1 launch 2nd generation ChargerSat testing continued under
T0056.
Benefits
The technology problem being addressed is in the area of Modeling, Simulation, Information Technology and Processing. This experiment will provide modeling and simulation experience to the developing workforce
Details
| Technology area | Aerospace Power and Energy Storage > Power Generation and Energy Conversion > Photovoltaic Electrical Power |
| Program | Flight Opportunities (FO) |
| Lead organization | University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL |
| Start date | 2012-07-06 |
| End date | 2015-07-06 |
Project contacts
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
How to get involved
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.