NevadaSat is a program based at the University of Nevada, Reno, and
operating throughout the University and Community College System of
Nevada (UCCSN). The objective of this program is to expose students in
Nevada to aerospace science and technology through hands-on experience
and participation in a wide range of high-impact activities. At
present, this is done through two programs (BalloonSats and CanSats). A
third program (CubeSats) is presently being planned.
Students build payloads that are launched on high-altitude balloons,
that ascend to the edge of space at an altitude of ~100,000 feet, while
performing various student-implemented tasks (experiments). After
recovery on the ground, students analyze the data they obtained and
Students build soda can sized payloads that are launched aboard
high-powered amateur rockets to altitudes of ~10,000 feet, where the
payload is ejected to decend via parachute. Payloads perform various
functions. Complementing this, students design and build autonomous and
remote-controlled rover robots that venture out into the desert to find
and recover the CanSats and return them to the control base.
When implemented, students will design and build a 1kg picosatellite to
be launched into low earth orbit aboard a commercial launch vehicle
(rocket). This program is currently in the planning stage.
Primary Participating Institutions