About CUSat

CUSat LogoCUSat is a multi-year effort to design, build, and launch an autonomous in-orbit inspection satellite system. The CUSat space vehicle consists of two functionally identical satellites that will launch together and separate in orbit. Using centimeter accuracy carrier-phase differential GPS, the two satellites will perform autonomous relative navigation. One satellite will capture imagery of the other satellite and send these images to a ground station on Earth for the reconstruction of a 3-D model of the partner satellite. The images will also act to verify the relative GPS implementation. Doing so will demonstrate how one spacecraft can diagnose the structural health and configuration of another, a capability that will help enable commercial, government, and manned space missions envisioned for the coming decades.

CUSat is the winner of the University Nanosat-4 Program which aims to educate the future aerospace workforce and develop new space technologies.

Contact Us

MAILING ADDRESS:

CUSat Satellite Project
B30 Rhodes Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853

TELEPHONE:

TEL: 607.255.7483
FAX: 607.255.1222

E-MAIL:

Technical/Media Contact:

Upcoming Events

News and Updates

August 08, 2012

CUSat is scheduled to launch in early Spring 2013 from Vandenburg Air Force base in California. The team continues hardware and software testing and mission operation planning.

December 14, 2010

CUSat has been officially manifested on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch. While the CUSat hardware is undergoing final environmental testing at the Kirtland Air Force Base, the operations team is running Mission Rehearsals.

March 04, 2009

CUSat has completed final testing and integration at Cornell and has been shipped back to Kirtland Air Force Base. The spacecraft will now undergo final environmental testing in preparation for launch.

August 20, 2008

Both CUSat spacecraft have been shipped back to Cornell to allow further software testing. The spacecraft are undergoing this additional I&T in Cornell clean room facilities.

May 26, 2008

CUSat successfully completed environmental testing, including vibration testing, thermal vacuum testing, and bakeout, in facilities at Kirtland Air Force Base.

March 30, 2008

CUSat has shipped both spacecraft to facilities at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM, for environmental testing and integration.

Articles

August 08, 2012

Manifest Destiny

FEATURED: Cornell Engineering News

December 13, 2010

Student-built satellite scheduled for rocket launch

FEATURED: Cornell Chronicle

September 18, 2008

Orbital Awarded New Minotaur IV Mission By U.S. Air Force

FEATURED: Orbital Sciences

August 06, 2008

Collision between rocket stages doomed Falcon 1

FEATURED: spaceflightnow.com

May 29, 2008

CUSat not selected for Jumpstart Launch on SpaceX Falcon 1

FEATURED: Yahoo! News


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