Research Area(s):
Astronomy & Astrophysics, Earth Science, Heliophysics, Instrumentation, Planetary Science, Space Life Sciences, Space Situational Awareness
Description:
Suborbital Flight Testing and Flight Experiments with CubeSat Payloads
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center (ARC) is requesting broad community input under a Request for Information (RFI) to determine interest in using high altitude aircraft as a means for flight testing and flight experiments with CubeSat science payloads. The two primary use cases of interest are flight testing CubeSat instruments intended for orbital use and airborne flight experiments that leverage CubeSat technologies for earth observing instruments.
As background for the RFI, the NASA Airborne Science Program (ASP), managed under the Earth Science Division (ESD) within the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), operates a fleet of highly modified aircraft that support NASA satellite missions, technology development, and science investigations. The primary objectives of the program include supporting satellite calibration and validation, new sensor development, process studies of the Earth system, and developing the next generation of scientists and engineers. Additional information on the ASP can be found at: https://airbornescience.nasa.g
With this RFI, the NASA Airborne Science Program is exploring community interest in having NASA support the use of CubeSat science payloads in the Airborne Science Program.
The RFI is for information purposes only.
The due date for responses is November 21, 2017 (3:00pm Pacific).
Please see the RFI at the following:
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=op
Point of Contact:
Mr. Jeffrey Myers
Airborne Sensor Facility Manager
jmyers@usra.edu
Dr. David Bell, Director
USRA Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science
dbell@usra.edu
