The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has awarded nine grants representing $3.15 million under the CubeSats Initiative in Canada for STEM (CUBICS) to Canadian post-secondary institutions to advance space science and technology while training the next generation of space experts.
This initiative builds on the success of the Canadian CubeSat Project, which had a third launch of miniature satellites on June 5.
Once tested and ready for space, the CubeSats were launched to, and deployed, from the ISS.
CUBICS gives students the unique opportunity to design, build, test, launch and operate their own miniature satellite — a CubeSat.
CSA experts will guide the teams as they plan and prepare their missions. Throughout the project, CSA experts, as well as representatives from the Canadian space industry, guide professors and students to optimize the success of each mission.
This unique hands-on experience provides students with the opportunity to acquire expertise in a wide variety of areas, ranging from science and technology to communicating their work to the public, and developing invaluable skills that will prepare them to become Canada’s next generation of space innovators.
The student teams will then operate their satellites and conduct science according to the objectives of their missions, which could last up to 12 months.