{"id":168831,"date":"2020-10-28T00:27:40","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T04:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-465829"},"modified":"2024-03-22T09:11:11","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T13:11:11","slug":"cubesat-launch-initiative-introduction","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/cubesat-launch-initiative-introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"CubeSat Launch Initiative – Introduction"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\"><div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-light hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>CubeSat Launch Initiative<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 hds-secondary-navigation-has-breadcrumbs\"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-breadcrumbs display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-flex flex-align-center\"><nav class=\"usa-breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\"><ol class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list\"><li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/\" class=\"usa-breadcrumb__link\"><span>Home<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/cubesat-launch-initiative\/\" class=\"usa-breadcrumb__link\"><span>CubeSat Launch Initiative<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item usa-current\" aria-current=\"page\"><span>CubeSat Launch Initiative...<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\"><nav><ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\"><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/launch-services-program\/\">Launch Services Program Home<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/cubesat-launch-initiative\">CubeSat Launch Initiative Home<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/cubesat-launch-initiative-resources\/\">CSLI Resources<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>CSLI Missions<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/upcoming-elana-cubesat-launches\/\">Upcoming ELaNa Missions<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/past-elana-cubesat-launches\/\">Past ELaNa Missions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>More<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/announcement-of-partnership-opportunity-for-cubesat-launch-initiative\/\">How to Apply<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/smallsatellites\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Small Satellites Blog<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-spacer\"> <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CubeSat Launch Initiative – Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What Is A CubeSat?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HZMiJ_Q47qk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s CubeSat Launch Initiative provides opportunities for CubeSats built by U.S. educational institutions and non-profit organizations, including informal educational institutions such as museums and science centers, to fly on upcoming launches. Through innovative technology partnerships NASA provides these CubeSat developers a low-cost pathway to conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in space, thus enabling students, teachers, and faculty to obtain hands-on flight hardware design, development, and build experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each proposed investigation must demonstrate a benefit to NASA by addressing aspects of education, science, exploration, technology development, or operations relevant to NASA\u2019s strategic goals. This initiative provides NASA a mechanism for low-cost technology development and scientific research to help bridge strategic knowledge gaps and accelerate flight-qualified technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites. The cube-shaped satellites are spacecraft sized in standardized units or Us, typically up to 12U. A CubeSat unit is defined as a volume of about 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm and typically weighs less than 2 kg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">HOW IT WORKS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Each year, NASA releases an Announcement of Partnership Opportunity with detailed instructions on how an interested eligible organization may submit a proposal for a CubeSat project. Proposals received by the due date and adhering to the instructions are reviewed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/space-operations\/\">Space Operations Mission Directorate<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Science Mission Directorate<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/space-technology-mission-directorate\/\">Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/exploration-systems-development-mission-directorate\/\">Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/stem-engagement\/\">Office of STEM Engagement<\/a>, and scored based on a number of factors specified in the announcement. Of particular interest is educational impact and alignment to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/2022_nasa_strategic_plan_0.pdf?emrc=7230fd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NASA\u2019s Strategic Plan<\/a> and other NASA strategic documents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/kennedy\/launch-services-program\/\">Launch Services Program<\/a> (LSP) will pair selected CubeSats with launches that are best suited for each CubeSat\u2019s mission and ready date, taking into consideration the planned orbit and any special constraints the CubeSat\u2019s mission may have. Once CubeSats are paired to a launch, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/kennedy\/launch-services-program\/cubesat-launch-initiative\/past-elana-cubesat-launches\/\">ELaNa<\/a> (Educational Launch of Nanosatellites) mission number is assigned. An ELaNa mission simply describes the complement of CSLI selected CubeSat(s) that are flying along as auxiliary payloads on the primary launch mission. Deployment of the CubeSats can be either directly from the launch vehicle, or more commonly, taken to the International Space Station where it is deployed by a crewmember per a predetermined schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the past, selected science investigation missions have studied Earth\u2019s atmosphere, near Earth objects, space weather, and biological sciences. Technology demonstration missions have included in-space propulsion, space power, radiation testing, and solar sails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CubeSat Launch Initiative is one of many ways NASA is attracting and retaining students in STEM disciplines. This strengthens NASA\u2019s and the nation\u2019s future workforce. Further, the initiative promotes and develops innovative technology partnerships among NASA, U.S. industry, and other sectors for the benefit of agency programs and projects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">HIGHLIGHTS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Since its inception, the CubeSat Launch Initiative has launched over 150 CubeSats on more than 40 ELaNa missions. Additional CubeSats have already been manifested for flight on future missions, and more are always coming. Through this initiative, ELaNa missions have included: BisonSat (first CubeSat built by a tribal college in the U.S.), TJ3Sat (first CubeSat built by a U.S. high school), WeissSat1 (first CubeSat built by U.S. middle schoolers), and STMSat-1 (first CubeSat built by a U.S. elementary school).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA has selected over 200 CubeSat missions from more than 100 unique organizations representing 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The CubeSat Launch Initiative eagerly looks forward to submissions, and ultimately selections, from the remaining states. NASA also encourages the submission of proposals from Minority Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/csli-mission-status-by-state-map-2024-03-19.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/csli-mission-status-by-state-map-2024-03-19.jpg?w=1280\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/csli-mission-status-by-state-map-2024-03-19.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/csli-mission-status-by-state-map-2024-03-19.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/csli-mission-status-by-state-map-2024-03-19.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/csli-mission-status-by-state-map-2024-03-19.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/csli-mission-status-by-state-map-2024-03-19.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/csli-mission-status-by-state-map-2024-03-19.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/csli-mission-status-by-state-map-2024-03-19.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/csli-mission-status-by-state-map-2024-03-19.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Number of CubeSat Launch Initiative selections by state.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/kennedy\/launch-services-program\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Launch Services Program<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1022\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/jpss-2_launch.jpg?w=1022\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/jpss-2_launch.jpg 1277w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/jpss-2_launch.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/jpss-2_launch.jpg?resize=768,1155 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/jpss-2_launch.jpg?resize=681,1024 681w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/jpss-2_launch.jpg?resize=1022,1536 1022w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/jpss-2_launch.jpg?resize=266,400 266w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/jpss-2_launch.jpg?resize=399,600 399w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/jpss-2_launch.jpg?resize=599,900 599w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/jpss-2_launch.jpg?resize=798,1200 798w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1022px) 100vw, 1022px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/kennedy\/launch-services-program\/launch-services-program-launch-sites\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Launch Services Program Launch Sites<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1022\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OFT-2-Launch.jpg?w=1022\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OFT-2-Launch.jpg 1363w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OFT-2-Launch.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OFT-2-Launch.jpg?resize=768,1154 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OFT-2-Launch.jpg?resize=682,1024 682w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OFT-2-Launch.jpg?resize=1022,1536 1022w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OFT-2-Launch.jpg?resize=266,400 266w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OFT-2-Launch.jpg?resize=399,600 399w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OFT-2-Launch.jpg?resize=599,900 599w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OFT-2-Launch.jpg?resize=799,1200 799w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OFT-2-Launch.jpg?resize=1331,2000 1331w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1022px) 100vw, 1022px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/launch-services-program-upcoming-missions\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Launch Services Program Upcoming Missions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"939\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/124-1240680_nasa-lsp-logo-clipart-png-download-nasa-launch.png?w=900\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); 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Through innovative technology partnerships NASA provides these CubeSat developers a low-cost pathway to conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":171691,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[12644,3194,3313,2777],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[10411,4177,12011],"coauthors":[8387],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"CubeSat Launch Initiative – Introduction","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/cubesat-launch-initiative-introduction\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/cubesat-launch-initiative-introduction\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/elana-feature.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/elana-feature.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Directorates","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jason Costa"}],"creator":["Jason Costa"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","Small Satellite Missions","CubeSat Launch Initiative","CubeSats","Launch Services Office"],"dateCreated":"2020-10-28T04:27:40Z","datePublished":"2020-10-28T04:27:40Z","dateModified":"2024-03-22T13:11:11Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"CubeSat Launch Initiative – Introduction\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/cubesat-launch-initiative-introduction\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/elana-feature.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2020-10-28T04:27:40Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Directorates\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Small Satellite Missions,CubeSat Launch Initiative,CubeSats,Launch Services Office\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Jason Costa\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"time_ago":"4 years","featured_image":{"id":171691,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/elana-feature.jpg","title":"elana-feature","alt":"Montage of ELaNa CubeSats","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/168831"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/topic"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/168831\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":635885,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/168831\/revisions\/635885"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/171691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168831"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168831"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=168831"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=168831"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=168831"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}