Cubesats are a class of small satellites that are relatively low cost which make an ideal platform for scientific research and spacecraft development. USM’s cubesat program is sponsored by the Maine Space Grant Consortium.
USM’s Cubesat program consists of the following elements.
- Scientific research and engineering development
- Earthshine, a satellite to measure environmental parameters
- New methods and materials for self-deploying satellite antennas
- Undergraduate internships CRATE
- STEM K-12 outreach programs
- UCDC Competition for middle and high school students
- Summer camps
- MESAT, the first satellite built in Maine
- Cubesat laboratory and satellite ground station in Gorham
- Facilities for receiving data and sending commands to cubesats in orbit
- Facility for assembly and testing of cubesats