P-POD Auxiliary Payload on the STP-ST26/Minotaur-IV Launch

Department Of The Air Force, Space And Missile Systems Center, Kirtland Afb NM

Investigators

Abstract

This is a transfer of funds to the U.S. Air Force Space Test Program for accommodations and launch services for an auxiliary payload carrying a NSF-sponsored spacecraft on the STP-S26/Minotaur-IV launch scheduled for December 2009. The NSF sponsored nano-satellite will be a "triple (3U) cubesat" and will utilize the Poly-Picosat Orbital Deployer (P-POD) system. The purpose of the NSF nano-satellite mission will be space weather research. The selection of the mission will be done following a solicitation for proposals and scientific and technical review of the proposals. This will be the first project under a new NSF initiative titled: "CubeSat-based Science Missions for Space Weather and Atmospheric Research."