CubeSats

The Space@VT CubeSat Program 's mission is to provide Virginia Tech and partners with a sustainable spacecraft development program that supports and enhances academic learning, hands-on research, and mission oriented space initiatives. Some examples of current and previous CubeSat projects are shown here.

Ut ProSat Hack-a-Sat

Ut ProSat 2 Patch

Faculty Advisory:
Student Lead:
Total Student Engagement: Over 30 students
Development dates: 2026 -

Mission objective is to launch a 3U satellite to serve as a testbed for up to 6 independent payloads. Available SWAP for upcoming missions are volume up to 2.2U, mass up to 3.0 kg and power between 20 and 40 W. The minimum life cycle is 3 years in LEO, operated under a commercial license.

Ut ProSat-1

Ut ProSat 1 Patch

Faculty Advisory: Dr. Black / Dr. Gargioni
Student Lead:
Total Student Engagement: Over 50 students
Development dates: 2022-2024

Mission objective is to design, fabricate, assemble, validate, deliver, launch, and operate a 3U satellite to serve as a testbed for multiple missions including NASA's newest deployable boom technology. In addition, an objective of the mission is to execute and collect data from payloads including an IMU sensor, autonomous/remote deployment and retraction of NASA's boom, and recover images confirming in-space deployment of the boom. This mission has been delivered in Feb. 2023 and latest launch opportunity is in 2027.

InspireFly ContentCube

inspireFly ContentCube Patch

Faculty Advisory: Dr. Schroeder
Student Lead:
Total Student Engagement: Over 100 students
Development dates: 2021-2025

Mission objective was to design, fabricate, assemble, validate, deliver, launch, and operate a 1U satellite in LEO. In addition, an objective of the mission was to execute and collect science data from the payload with a goal of taking a selfie from in-space deployment camera/mirror. Then download these images as well as upload images to take a selfie with to confirm in-space deployment. This mission was deployed from the ISS in Dec. 2025 after being delivered for launch in May 2025

VT ThickSat-1

ThickSat 1 Patch

Faculty Advisory: Dr. Jon Black
Student Lead:
Total Student Engagement: Over 30 students
Development dates: 2019-2021

Mission objective was to design, fabricate, assemble, validate, deliver, launch, and operate 6T satellite to serve as a testbed for NASA's newest deployable boom technology. In addition, objectives for this mission included establishing communications through Virginia Tech's ground station and execute the payload of an autonomous or remotely controlled deployable boom. This mission was launched in NC-15 on Feb. 19, 2021.

VT VCC Ceres

VCC Patch

Faculty Advisory:
Student Lead:
Total Student Engagement: Over 40 students
Development dates: 2016-2019

Mission objective was to design, fabricate, assemble, validate, deliver, launch and operate the first VT student-led Cubesat project, a 1U satellite. In addition, objectives for this mission were to establish communications through Virginia Tech's ground station, and execute and collect science data from orbital decay by relative motion track with its other university mission companions. This mission was launched to the ISS in NC-11 on April 17, 2019.