A team of 43 S&T students recently received $110,000 from the Air Force Research Laboratory to build and develop two microsatellites that will compete in the AFRL’s Nanosat 6 competition.

“The key to winning a Nanosat competition is to demonstrate to AFRL that the mission has a high likelihood of success.”

The satellites, Missouri Rolla Satellite and Missouri Rolla Second Satellite, are designed to launch as a single unit, then separate and maintain a specific flight formation.

Five reviews will be conducted on the progress of the satellites. The final Flight Competition Review, where each team will power up a fully assembled spacecraft and computer control system, won’t occur until January 2011.

In 2007, the team competed in its first Nanosat competition, placing third.

“The key to winning a Nanosat competition is to demonstrate to AFRL that the mission has a high likelihood of success,” says Hank Pernicka, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and the team’s adviser.