UND in Orbit

(Photo courtesy of Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at UND via UND Today)

(By Averie Eixenberger. UND Today) – With the launch of two satellites, a new frontier of space sciences at the University of North Dakota now orbits around us. With UND now fully in control of day-to-day operations, students have the chance to gain real-world experience as satellite operators.  

Getting a satellite into orbit is no easy task and requires time, research and collaboration. After years dedicated to the project, the satellites were launched aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter 14 Rideshare mission this past June.

“UND had plans to place a satellite in space for many years,” said Pablo de León, professor and chair of Space Studies at UND and project manager for this satellite mission. “Several projects were initiated over time, but for a variety of reasons — most notably, the challenges associated with achieving orbit — they could not be completed.

“A few years ago, the North Dakota State Legislature awarded UND dedicated funding to support the development, construction, and launch of satellite infrastructure,” de León continued. “This funding made it possible to finally move the project forward.”