NASA selects Maine’s first small research satellite for launch in next three years
Maine’s first CubeSat is one of 18 small research satellites selected by NASA to carry auxiliary payloads into space between 2021–23. It is part of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative that provides opportunities for nanosatellite science and technology payloads built by universities, schools and nonprofit organizations to ride share on space launches.
Maine’s CubeSat, MESAT1, is being developed in partnership of two of the state’s public universities along with a trio of K–12 schools. The University of Maine’s graduate students in collaboration with the University of Southern Maine (USM) undergraduate students are providing CubeSat design, development, integration and testing. Payload proposals were led by Saco Middle School, Fryeburg Academy and Falmouth High School.
When MESAT1 is launched, Maine middle school and high school students will access satellite data for scientific discovery, says UMaine professor of electrical and computer engineering Ali Abedi, assistant vice president for research and director of the Center for Undergraduate Research, who is leading the project with Jeremy Qualls, USM professor of physics and dean of the College of Science, Technology, and Health; and Jason Goldstein, director of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve.
MESAT1 was awarded $300,000 from NASA. The project also received $150,000 in NASA Maine Space Grant Consortium funding for graduate student research. Additional funding from UMaine and USM to support undergraduate student research brings the total funding for MESAT1 to $522,000 over three years.
NASA’s Cubesat Launch Initiative has a goal to have all 50 states participate by developing and launching nanosatellites, says Terry Shehata, director of the Maine Space Grant Consortium. The consortium launched a statewide competition in January 2019 to all Maine school districts for CubeSat project proposals to the NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative. Out of the 11 proposals submitted, the following three payloads were selected:
- The first payload proposed by Saco Middle School, dubbed ALBEDO will investigate the impact of albedo (fraction of solar irradiation reflected back into space) on local temperature. The goal is to compare temperature and albedo across urban and rural areas. The low Earth orbit space test environment offers the ability to collect and analyze vast quantities of relevant data. The purpose of the analysis is to determine whether or not urban heat islands can be mitigated through architectural designs that maximize albedo.
- The second payload proposed by Fryeburg Academy, IMAGER, will be used to study an application of a low-cost remote sensing tool for coastal estuaries as a STEM activity. The goal is to develop a remote sensing tool by modifying a digital camera to image shallow, coastal waters to distinguish water quality properties such as turbidity and phytoplankton concentration.
- The third payload proposed by Falmouth High School, HAB, will study harmful algal blooms to see if they increase atmospheric temperature and water vapor levels in the atmosphere above them. Developing the capacity to monitor and identify algal blooms from orbit will provide a simple way to track the development, distribution and dispersion of blooms. If a correlation between humidity and the temperature of the atmosphere and the sea surface in the vicinity of HABs is established, it will be easier to detect when an algal bloom is growing.
In addition to UMaine, the other institutions recently awarded CubeSat space missions included Dartmouth, University of California, Berkeley, University of Alabama, University of Minnesota, University of Washington, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Colorado Boulder and Rice University. A NASA release about the announcement is online.
University of Maine’s research infrastructure developed in the past decade primarily by NASA, Maine Space Grant Consortium and Maine Technology Institute (MTI) funding received a boost through this new award, the announcement of which comes just days before a legislative committee is set to take up a bill to advance the Maine Spaceport Complex initiative, a public-private partnership envisioned by a group of private and public stakeholders organized by the Maine Space Grant Consortium and supported by a MTI-funded market demand study.
LD 2092 would establish the Maine Spaceport Complex Leadership Council to develop a strategic and investment plan for the SpacePort Complex. Maine is well-positioned with the new NASA award and the existing aerospace assets at UMaine, Brunswick Landing, Loring Commerce Center, the soon-to-be-developed Statewide CubeSat Launch Program at USM, Maine’s growing aerospace supply chain companies, and the presence of startup small-launch vehicle companies in Maine, Shehata says. Passage of the bill will enable Maine to assume a leadership role in the emerging and fast-growing market for nanosatellites that is projected to reach $9.5 billion in 2030, largely due to their use in a broad range of commercial applications in all regions of the world, by launching nanosatellites using small, low-cost launch vehicles.
The MTI-funded study demonstrated that the state’s latitude/longitude, coastline and very low population density offer the most desirable, direct and near-polar orbit access, in all 50 states, for full Earth coverage as the planet rotates, Shehata says. Such access to the majority of the Earth’s continental land masses compared to equatorial launches would open significant opportunities for K–12 education, R&D and commercial development of applications relevant to all industries in Maine. The study also showed that NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, several small and large aerospace companies and academic institutions in the Northeast region are highly interested in using launch facilities in Maine. This is important because the growth and sustainability of the complex requires it to be at least a national R&D, satellite fabrication and integration, education, data analytics and launch resource for accessing polar orbits, says Shehata.
The impact of a SpacePort Complex and a new space economy in Maine aligns with the state’s Economic Development Strategy 2020–29 and the University of Maine System R&D Plan. Shehata notes that it would help train and retain Maine’s students and immigrants graduating with aerospace-related STEM degrees; attract highly skilled workers and their families from out of state; encourage startups and spur development in all seven technology sectors; develop globally based applications for both commercial and consumer uses; facilitate STEM learning opportunities for Maine high school and higher education students; increase demand for broadband, quality roads and housing; promote economic aspirations for all Mainers; and advance the state to a new competitive level in a fast-growing knowledge economy.
Contact: Margaret Nagle, 207.581.3745
NASA imechagua satelaiti ndogo ya utafiti ya Maine kwa uzinduzi katika miaka mitatu ijayo.CubeSat ya kwanza ya Maine ni moja ya satelaiti ndogo za utafiti 18 zilizochaguliwa na NASA kubeba mizigo ya msaada katika nafasi kati ya 2021 na 2023. NASA ina mpango wa CubeSat Launch Initiative, ambao hutoa fursa kwa nanosatellite sayansi na teknolojia payloads kujengwa na vyuo vikuu, shule na mashirika yasiyo ya faida kuendesha sehemu ya uzinduzi. CubeSat ya Maine, MESAT1, inaendelezwa kwa ushirikiano wa vyuo vikuu viwili vya umma vya jimbo pamoja na shule tatu za K-12. Wanafunzi wa Chuo Kikuu cha Maine, pamoja na wanafunzi wa Chuo Kikuu cha Maine Kusini (USM), wanatoa muundo, maendeleo, ushirikiano na upimaji wa CubeSat. Mapendekezo ya mzigo wa faida yaliongozwa na Shule ya Kati ya Saco, Chuo cha Fryeburg na Shule ya Upili ya Falmouth. "Wakati MESAT-1 itatolewa, wanafunzi wa shule ya sekondari ya Maine watapata data ya satelaiti kwa ajili ya uvumbuzi wa kisayansi, ""alisema Ali Abedi, profesa wa U-Maine wa uhandisi wa umeme na kompyuta, na msaidizi wa makamu wa rais wa utafiti na mkurugenzi wa Kituo cha Utafiti wa Chuo Kikuu, ambaye anaongoza mradi huo na Jeremy Qualls, profesa wa fizikia na mkuu wa Chuo cha Sayansi, Teknolojia na Afya, na Jason Goldstein, mkurugenzi wa Hifadhi ya Utafiti ya Taifa ya Wells." MESAT-1 ilipewa tuzo ya dola milioni 300 kutoka NASA. Mradi huo pia ulipata $ 150,000 katika NASA Maine Space Grant Consortium ufadhili kwa utafiti wa wanafunzi wa kuhitimu. Ufadhili wa ziada kutoka U-Maine na USM kusaidia utafiti wa wanafunzi wa shahada ya kwanza huleta ufadhili wa jumla kwa MESAT1 hadi $ 522,000 kwa miaka mitatu. NASA ina mpango wa kutengeneza na kutuma satellite ndogo ndogo za Space Launch, ambayo inatarajiwa kuunganisha majimbo yote ya Marekani katika miaka ya 50 ijayo, alisema Terry Shehata, mkurugenzi wa Maine Space Grant Consortium. Mkutano huo ulizindua mashindano ya jimbo nzima mnamo Januari 2019 kwa wilaya zote za shule za Maine kwa mapendekezo ya mradi wa CubeSat kwa NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative. "Kutokana na mapendekezo hayo, ""Saco Middle School"" imeamua kuanzisha mradi wa kwanza wa uchunguzi wa athari za albedo (sehemu ya mnururisho wa jua unaorudi kwenye anga) kwenye joto la dunia." Lengo ni kulinganisha joto na albedo katika maeneo ya mijini na vijijini. Mazingira ya majaribio ya anga ya chini ya dunia hutoa uwezo wa kukusanya na kuchambua kiasi kikubwa cha data muhimu. Lengo la uchambuzi ni kuamua kama au si mijini kisiwa cha joto inaweza kupunguzwa kupitia miundo ya usanifu kwamba kuongeza albedo. - mzigo wa pili uliopendekezwa na Fryeburg Academy, IMAGER, utatumiwa kujifunza matumizi ya chombo cha gharama nafuu cha uchunguzi wa mbali kwa estuaries za pwani kama shughuli ya STEM. Lengo ni kuendeleza chombo cha remote sensing kwa kurekebisha kamera ya digital kwa picha ya maji ya chini, pwani ili kutofautisha mali ya ubora wa maji kama vile turbidity na phytoplankton mkusanyiko. Shule ya sekondari ya Falmouth, HAB, imepanga kufanya utafiti wa maua ya mwani ili kuona kama yanaongeza joto la anga na viwango vya mvuke wa maji katika anga. Kuendeleza uwezo wa kufuatilia na kutambua maua ya mwani kutoka angani itatoa njia rahisi ya kufuatilia maendeleo, usambazaji na kutawanyika kwa maua. Ikiwa uhusiano kati ya unyevu na joto la anga na uso wa bahari katika eneo la HABs umeanzishwa, itakuwa rahisi kugundua wakati maua ya mwani yanapokua. Pamoja na U-Maine, taasisi nyingine zilizopewa hivi karibuni CubeSat misheni za anga ni pamoja na Dartmouth, Chuo Kikuu cha California, Berkeley, Chuo Kikuu cha Alabama, Chuo Kikuu cha Minnesota, Chuo Kikuu cha Washington, Taasisi ya Teknolojia ya Massachusetts, Chuo Kikuu cha Colorado Boulder na Chuo Kikuu cha Rice. Taarifa ya NASA kuhusu tangazo hilo iko mtandaoni. "Mfumo wa utafiti wa Chuo Kikuu cha Maine, ulioanzishwa katika muongo uliopita na NASA, Maine Space Grant Consortium na Maine Institute of Technology (MTI), ulipata kichocheo kupitia tuzo hii mpya, ambayo ilitangazwa siku chache kabla ya kamati ya sheria kuanzisha muswada wa ""Mine Spaceport Complex,"" ushirikiano wa umma na binafsi ulioundwa na kikundi cha wadau wa kibinafsi na umma waliopangwa na Maine Space Grant Consortium na kuungwa mkono na utafiti wa mahitaji ya soko." LD2092 ilianzisha Baraza la Uongozi la Maine Spaceport Complex ili kuendeleza mpango wa kimkakati na uwekezaji kwa Spaceport Complex. "Maine iko katika nafasi nzuri na tuzo mpya ya NASA na mali zilizopo za anga katika UMaine, Brunswick Landing, Loring Commerce Center, Programu ya Uzinduzi wa CubeSat ya Jimbo la USM, Maine, na uwepo wa kampuni ndogo za uzinduzi wa ndege huko Maine. """ "Kupitishwa kwa muswada huo kutawezesha Maine kuchukua jukumu la uongozi katika soko linaloibuka na kukua kwa kasi la nanosatellites, ambalo linatarajiwa kufikia $ 9.5 bilioni katika 2030, hasa kwa sababu ya matumizi yao katika aina mbalimbali za matumizi ya kibiashara katika mikoa yote ya ulimwengu, kwa kuzindua nanosatellites kwa kutumia magari madogo ya uzinduzi ya gharama nafuu. """ "Utafiti huo uliofadhiliwa na MTI ulionyesha kwamba latitudo ya jimbo hilo, pwani na wiani wa watu wa chini sana hutoa upatikanaji wa karibu na mviringo wa polar, katika majimbo yote ya 50, kwa chanjo kamili ya Dunia wakati sayari inazunguka. """ Upatikanaji huo kwa sehemu kubwa ya ardhi ya bara la Dunia ikilinganishwa na uzinduzi wa ikweta, utafungua fursa kubwa kwa elimu ya K-12 na maendeleo ya kibiashara ya maombi yanayohusiana na viwanda vyote vya Maine. Utafiti huo pia ulionyesha kuwa NASA, Idara ya Ulinzi ya Marekani, makampuni kadhaa madogo na makubwa ya anga na taasisi za kitaaluma katika mkoa wa Kaskazini Mashariki yana nia ya kutumia vifaa vya uzinduzi huko Maine. "Hii ni muhimu kwa sababu ukuaji na uendelevu wa tata inahitaji kuwa angalau kitaifa R & D, utengenezaji wa satelaiti na ushirikiano, elimu, uchambuzi wa data na rasilimali ya uzinduzi wa kufikia mizunguko ya polar, ""Shehata anasema." "Mfano wa ""Ujenzi wa Uwanja wa Anga"" na ""Ujenzi wa Uwanja wa Anga"" ni pamoja na ""Ujenzi wa Uwanja wa Anga"" na ""Ujenzi wa Uwanja wa Anga"" na ""Ujenzi wa Uwanja wa Anga"" na ""Ujenzi wa Uwanja wa Anga"" na ""Ujenzi wa Uwanja wa Anga.""" Shehata anasema kuwa itawasaidia kuandaa na kuhifadhi wanafunzi wa Maine na wahamiaji wanaohitimu na digrii za STEM zinazohusiana na anga; kuvutia wafanyikazi wenye ujuzi wa hali ya juu na familia zao kutoka nje ya jimbo; kuhamasisha kuanza na kuchochea maendeleo katika sekta zote saba za teknolojia; kuendeleza maombi ya kimataifa kwa matumizi ya kibiashara na ya watumiaji; kuwezesha fursa za kujifunza STEM kwa wanafunzi wa shule ya sekondari na elimu ya juu; kuongeza mahitaji ya mtandao mpana, barabara bora na makazi; kukuza matarajio ya kiuchumi kwa Maineers wote. Wazo la mawasiliano: Margaret Nagle, 207.581.3745