Nasa seeks US student innovators for future space missions

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) has announced that its CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) is now accepting proposals for a new round of missions in 2026-2029.

CubeSats are small, low-cost spacecraft used by educational institutions, non-profits, and Nasa centrs to access space. They come in standardised sizes (1U, 3U, 6U) and are utilised to demonstrate and mature technologies in space.

According to Nasa's website, US educational institutions, non-profits, and informal education institutions in the US are eligible for the initiative with a focus on workforce development and minority-serving institutions.

Teams chosen will receive guidance from Nasa mission managers and have the chance to improve their hardware design and development.

"CubeSats offer a hands-on opportunity for students to explore the space industry and potentially launch their careers," said Jeanie Hall, CSLI program executive at Nasa Headquarters.

"Nasa selects CubeSat projects annually, prioritising those with educational value that also advance our understanding of science, technology, and exploration, while informing our approach to education and workforce development."

Nasa will be accepting proposals until November 15, and the selections will be finalised by March 14, 2025.

Furthermore, applicants are responsible for funding the development of their CubeSats.

The United States’ space agency has launched over 160 CubeSats and has selected missions from 45 states, according to Nasa.

Recently, eight CubeSat missions were launched on Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket, including CatSat and KUbeSat-1, which are testing new technologies in space.

Additionally, four CubeSats were deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Nasa’s SpaceX 30th commercial resupply mission.