Team Origin
Our team Big Red Satellite was formed in August 2020 by Lincoln, NE entrepreneur John McClure (1954-2021). John started the team with the goal to inspire the next generation of Astronauts and Aerospace Engineers. In doing so he hopes to bring a new economic source to Nebraska, Aerospace.
Our team is made up of fourteen 8th-11th graders from around Nebraska, our AXP mentors, and our Advisory Board.
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Let's Go to Space!
Team Origin
OUR PARTNERS
The Big Red Sat Team is grateful to the supporters who have made this project possible. In addition to individual donors, these foundations, institutions, and companies have provided
the funding to help the team realize its dream:
- University of Nebraska College of Engineering
- NASA
- NASA Nebraska Space Grant
- Rogers Foundation
- Cooper Foundation
- University of Oklahoma
- Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation
- Acklie Charitable Foundation
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Millard School Education Foundation
- Monolith Nebraska
- Ameritas
- Shirts 101
What Is a Cubesat?
A CubeSat is a small satellite primarily used for research. CubeSats are measured in size by "units" a unit or U is defined as having a volume of about 1,000 cm³ (10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm) and a weight less than 1.33 kg.
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Typical CubeSats are 1U, 1.5U, 2U, 3U, 6U or 12U.
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CubeSats are a cost-effective way to do research in space and micro-gravity. If companies or other organizations wanted to do something similar it would cost $10-40 million where most CubeSats cost a couple hundred thousand dollars.
What is a Cubesat?
1 U 2 U 6 U
1.5 U 3 U
What is
Nasa's
CSLI?
NASA's CSLI or CubeSat Launch Initiative "provides access to space for small satellites and CubeSats, developed by accredited educational institutions, non-profit organizations, Federal agencies, and NASA Centers. CSLI provides CubeSat developers a low-cost pathway for conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in space, and NASA a mechanism for low-cost technology development and scientific research to help bridge strategic knowledge gaps and accelerate qualified technology...They are a cornerstone in the development of cutting-edge NASA technologies like laser communications, satellite-to-satellite communications, and autonomous movement. Each proposed investigation must demonstrate a benefit to NASA by addressing aspects of science, exploration, technology development, education, or operations consistent with NASA’s strategic goals." (Hill, CubeSat Launch Initiative Celebrates 100th Mission Deployment 2020). NASA has a goal to launch a CubeSat manufactured from each state, our team hopes to be the first proposal accepted and launched from Nebraska.