Dr. Hank Pernicka, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Missouri S&T, and the Missouri S&T Satellite Research Team (M-SAT) have been awarded a $275,000 grant from the University Nanosatellite Program (UNP) to advance their work in spacecraft design and development. This competitive grant allows Missouri S&T to join a select group of 10 universities in designing, assembling, and testing a small spacecraft known as a “cubesat,” with the ultimate goal of securing a launch opportunity into Earth orbit.
The M-SAT team is leveraging this opportunity to develop an innovative cubesat mission in collaboration with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s Search and Rescue office. Their project aims to utilize the Doppler shift of signals received from a beacon on Earth’s surface to determine its location with high precision. This technology has significant potential for search and rescue operations, as it could enhance the ability to locate emergency beacons in remote or disaster-stricken areas, ultimately improving response times and increasing the chances of saving lives.
The University Nanosatellite Program, which provides funding for this initiative, is sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and is managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate. The program is designed to foster innovation in small satellite technology by engaging university teams in hands-on spacecraft development, providing students with invaluable experience in aerospace engineering, satellite systems, and mission planning. Through this initiative, Missouri S&T’s M-SAT team is contributing to advancements in satellite-based navigation and communication, reinforcing the university’s reputation as a leader in aerospace research and education.