Students in the Spacecraft Research Lab design, build, and test new technologies to be flown in space.
Future Missions
NASA GLOWS Mission
The Global L-band Observatory for Water Cycle Studies (GLOWS) is a satellite being developed by NASA as a follow on to the SMAP mission. Similar to SMAP, the GLOWS satellite will collect soil moisture data with global coverage. Current GLOWS research centers around the new deployable membrane lens antenna that will be used. Students in the Spacecraft Research Lab are using existing data from SMAP to predict the sensitivity and accuracy of the new GLOWS antenna system.
Passive Inspection CubeSats II
Passive Inspection CubeSats II (PICs II) is a follow on to the original PICs project. PICs II aims to develop a more robust communication system than the original PICs satellites.
1-U for HAM repeater
To be launched February 2025, through a Space X rocket, this experimental satellite was built completely by students.
L-ROCQ
A huge receiver that will be launched into space to help measure soil moisture.
Low cost Altitude Control
In space it is easy for satellites to lose control. That is why students have been working on a very tiny device that measures and uses earths magnetic field, combined with electromagnets, to help stabilize satellites.
Past Missions
