A team of underߣsir��Ƶuate ߣsir��Ƶ from the University of ߣsir��Ƶʻi at ����ԴDz� is one step closer to a potential deployment of its robotic rover to explore Mars.

“Team Robotic Space Exploration” (Team RoSE) is headed to Utah in late May to compete in the —the world’s premier robotics competition for college ߣsir��Ƶ.

“The team was in awe of the results, but is greatly motivated to improve upon our designs to be prepared for competition in Utah,” said lead systems integrator and student Jack Saito. “With less than 60 days left, the team is hoping to guarantee the success of our systems and eliminate any risks with thorough and persistent testing.”

After submitting a preliminary design and system acceptance review, the group was one of 38 teams selected to participate in the final round. More than 100 teams entered the competition.

“The entire team was ecstatic with the results knowing all the hard work and dedication had paid off; including all members from the past three years,” said project manager and mechanical engineering student Micah Chang. “It’s a great privilege for Team RoSE to participate in this magnificent event, and the team is excited for this opportunity to interact with peers and professionals from around the globe.”

Mission to Mars

The University Rover Challenge challenges teams to design and build the next generation of Mars rovers that may one day work alongside astronauts exploring the Red Planet.

Rovers will compete in four missions:

• Science mission to investigate a site for the presence of life
• Delivery mission to deliver a variety of objects to astronauts in the field across rugged terrain
• Equipment servicing mission to perform dexterous operations on a mock lander using a robotic arm
• Autonomous navigation mission to autonomously travel to a series of locations

“I’m so incredibly proud and impressed by the achievements of this highly motivated group of ߣsir��Ƶ,” said Frances Zhu, assistant researcher and the team’s advisor. “This underߣsir��Ƶuate team formed just three years ago during the pandemic and now they are competing on the international stage.”

“This is the third time our ߣsir��Ƶ ����ԴDz� team has entered this very prestigious competition and the first time they were selected,” said Trevor Sorensen, specialist/project manager and the team’s advisor. “Their teamwork and engineering skills are very impressive and I believed that this team would succeed. Go ‘Bows!”

VIP project

is one of approximately 20 (VIP) at ߣsir��Ƶ ����ԴDz�, which seek to foster long-term, in-depth, project-based learning to engage ߣsir��Ƶ and better prepare them for future careers. It consists of a faculty mentor, ߣsir��Ƶuate student researchers and underߣsir��Ƶuates.

“Robotic Space Exploration is an ideal example of a VIP team,” said Aaron Ohta, professor and VIP program director. “They are a multidisciplinary group of extremely talented and motivated ߣsir��Ƶ. This impressive accomplishment is a testament to their hard work and dedication.”

“This is why we encourage all our ߣsir��Ƶ to participate in VIP,” said College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka. “It exposes them to all the skill sets they will need in their careers and life—from the technical know-how to working with others to public speaking and leadership qualities.”

—By Marc Arakaki

A satellite designed and built by a team of more than 60 ߣsir��Ƶ and faculty from the University of ߣsir��Ƶʻi at Mānoa successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 21. The Hyperspectral Thermal Imager (HyTI) satellite launched aboard the SpaceX commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), deployment from the ISS is expected in May. The mission is expected to last one year.

“It is so special that I was able to watch my first live rocket launch with something I helped make on board,” said Chiara Ferrari-Wong, a ߣsir��Ƶ ߣsir��Ƶuate research assistant who traveled to Florida to watch the launch. “The launch represented a culmination of our team’s hard work and efforts over the past few years, and will remain one of my core memories of my time at ߣsir��Ƶ Mānoa. I am incredibly fortunate to have worked with the team and had the opportunity to see the spacecraft go from concept to reality.”

ߣsir��Ƶ satellite to study volcanic activity, more

The project’s focus is to gather valuable data for understanding Earth’s surface processes, including volcanic activity, wildfires and soil-moisture levels. Led by Principal Investigator Robert Wright, director of the (HIGP), the project began in October 2018, with funding from NASA‘s In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies Program.

“We have a couple of volcanoes here within the state which regularly erupt,” said Wright. “And the kind of data that HyTI will collect will be useful to study the eruptions that happen in the future within the state of ߣsir��Ƶʻi.”

Related story: Students, staff and faculty head to NASA launch of ߣsir��Ƶ satellite, February 2024

The HyTI satellite, officially owned by NASA and operated by the , was selected in 2019 as part of NASA‘s CubeSat Launch Initiative, under the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites program. Equipped with onboard data processing capabilities, the satellite will deliver high-resolution thermal images, surpassing the capabilities of current sensors. These images will enable scientists and disaster response managers to analyze and respond to environmental events with precision and speed.

ߣsir��Ƶ ߣsir��Ƶ, staff and faculty have been actively involved in the development of the HyTI satellite, including six faculty members, 15 staff, eight ߣsir��Ƶuate ߣsir��Ƶ, two post-docs, 30 underߣsir��Ƶuate ߣsir��Ƶ and six high school interns.

In an unprecedented opportunity for hands-on involvement in space exploration, a team of ߣsir��Ƶ and faculty from the University of ߣsir��Ƶʻi at Mānoa are eagerly anticipating the launch of the Hyperspectral Thermal Imager (HyTI) satellite. Members of the team are preparing to travel to Kennedy Space Center in Florida to witness the launch firsthand on March 14.

“This project has been a highly collaborative effort since its inception,” said Wright. “Many University of ߣsir��Ƶʻi at Mānoa ߣsir��Ƶ, staff and faculty have been involved in the design, integration, and testing of the satellite. We are thrilled to watch the HyTI satellite launch into space and begin the next phase of processing high-resolution thermal images.”

“Being a part of the development for the HyTI satellite with HSFL (ߣsir��Ƶʻi Space Flight Laboratory) was truly a wonderful opportunity that allowed me to be a part of something so tremendous; that is, building a satellite!” said second-year mechanical engineering student Kent Miyahara.

The HyTI satellite, equipped with onboard data processing capabilities, will deliver high-resolution thermal images, surpassing the capabilities of current sensors. These images will enable scientists and disaster response managers to analyze and respond to environmental events with precision and speed.

“HyTI is the first NASA mission made in ߣsir��Ƶʻi and possibly one of the most advanced 6U CubeSats in the world,” said Miguel Nunes, deputy principal investigator and systems engineer for the HyTI Mission.

The HyTI satellite, officially owned by NASA and operated by the HSFL, was selected in 2019 as part of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative, under the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites program. Scheduled to launch aboard the SpX-30 Dragon CRS-2 commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), deployment from the ISS is expected in May. The mission duration is estimated to be one year.

Real-world student experience

ߣsir��Ƶ ߣsir��Ƶ, staff and faculty have been actively involved in the development of the HyTI satellite, including six faculty members, 15 staff, eight ߣsir��Ƶuate ߣsir��Ƶ, two post-docs, 30 underߣsir��Ƶuate ߣsir��Ƶ and six high school interns.

“The mere fact that I have been a part of building a satellite that will be orbiting the Earth in the near future, aimed down at us from many, many miles above, furthering the scientific understanding of ߣsir��Ƶʻi is absolutely mind blowing and amazing,” Miyahara said.

“It was super cool and exciting to work on something that pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with cutting edge technology to help solve problems of today,” mechanical engineering senior Kenny Son said.

“One of the highlights of my experience working on HyTI was utilizing theory from my classes to contribute to the development of a physical product destined for space,” said third year electrical engineering student Jhon Leo Gabion.

“This has been an incredible opportunity for ߣsir��Ƶ, and training our local aerospace workforce, by providing real-world experience working with professional engineers on a NASA mission with real requirements and hardware,” said Yosef Ben Gershom, operations manager at HSFL.

The University of ߣsir��Ƶʻi at Mānoa and the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate in the field of space sciences, which can include space-based observations looking down on the Earth, particularly over the Pacific region, as well as looking at the stars and other planets.

“This program is one important step toward making ߣsir��Ƶʻi the nation’s center for space-based observation of the Pacific,” said ߣsir��Ƶ Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno. “There is a real need to better understand what’s going on in the Pacific. It’s this vast domain that is impossible to monitor, especially from the ground. You really have to begin to monitor from space.”

The MOU is effective for three years with both institutions committing to faculty, scholar and student exchanges; sharing academic information, materials and publications; joint research programs; conferences and other student initiatives. The agreement also prioritizes autonomy and financial independence.

MDAA is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that advocates for the development of missile defense systems. They also advocate for multi-use platforms that can make critical Earth observations for civilian needs.

The development of this new program will involve ߣsir��Ƶ ��ā�ԴDz�’s , the , the and the (IfA).

• Related ߣsir��Ƶ News story: Space-bound payload tested by ߣsir��Ƶ ߣsir��Ƶʻi Space Flight Lab team, October 27, 2023

“I think a critical need is to connect our leading-edge research to education, and that is a big part of what this program is going to seek to do,” said Bruno.

The MOU will further incorporate a variety of technology development programs at ߣsir��Ƶ, and space research that is being conducted across different units at ߣsir��Ƶ, to enhance �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s ability to monitor the Pacific region.

“Instead of looking up, it’s going to look down with sensors to pick up the ability to see the entire Pacific, which we have not done in the history of mankind,” said Riki Ellison, MDAA chairman and founder. “This will be the first time that we will be able to see everything around us in the Pacific, whether it’s movements of fish, ships, planes, agriculture, everything.”

ߣsir��Ƶ also announced in January 2024 that it is in the initial stages of establishing a space engineering and instrument development center, a joint initiative between the ߣsir��Ƶ Mānoa College of Engineering, IfA and ߣsir��Ƶ Hilo.

The first prototype of Pono, a computing and dynamic tasking hosted payload developed by Privateer, completed environmental testing at the University of ߣsir��Ƶʻi at Mānoa over the summer. Underߣsir��Ƶuate ߣsir��Ƶ, faculty, and staff at the (HSFL) partnered with Privateer, a local company with headquarters in Maui, to assist with testing their payload.

HSFL was established in 2007 as a partnership between the and the , and is also embedded as a laboratory of the . This opportunity helped train ߣsir��Ƶ in workforce development, and supported the local economy by utilizing ߣsir��Ƶ infrastructure that had already been developed.

“We look forward to continuing to work together and support them with design and testing for the next Pono payload and future projects,” said Yosef Ben Gershom, an HSFL Engineer.

In collaboration with Privateer’s engineers, HSFL’s equipment and technical expertise—including clean room, shaker table, and thermal vacuum chamber—enabled successful vibration and thermal vacuum testing of the payload’s ability to operate in space-like conditions.

“As a multidisciplinary research and education center, our mission is to help develop and support the aerospace industry in ߣsir��Ƶʻi through workforce development and establishing infrastructure,” Ben Gershom said. “Collaborations with local companies and groups such as Privateer are crucial to diversifying and growing our island economy.”

Researchers hope the collaboration is a precursor to a continuing partnership, which could include future testing, technical reviews and interchange and mutually growing the talent and employment opportunities offered by aerospace and tech industries in ߣsir��Ƶʻi.

Due to its launch expertise, University of ߣsir��Ƶʻi at ����ԴDz�’s (HSFL) secured an $8 million technology demonstration mission funded by the NASA Earth Science Technology Office’s competitive In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies program, one of only 15 awarded since 2012.

The flagship HSFL project led by (HIGP) Director Robert Wright features HSFL’s Hyperspectral Thermal Imager (HyTI), a high-performance successor of its Space Ultra-Compact Hyperspectral Interferometer and TIRCIS technologies, in a 6U CubeSat (nanosatellite). The instrument uses a Fabry-Perot interferometer which splits light emitted by the materials that make up Earth’s surface and atmosphere, and from an orbit 400 km above Earth’s surface will allow HyTI to measure the chemical composition of gases, rocks, and soils based on their unique ‘spectral fingerprints.’

Built without any moving parts that can be damaged during launch, HyTI will deliver spatial resolution or image quality similar to the Landsat 9 satellite, currently the only U.S. satellite operating to observe the Earth’s surface. HyTI will offer even higher spectral resolution—which will help to identify and characterize materials and objects—greatly advancing the ability to study Earth system processes and broader applications.

“This technology demonstration mission is designed to be a pathfinder for a potential future science mission to show the capabilities and potential of HyTI,” said Wright. “As a CubeSat, HyTI is designed to work in constellations of 25–30 HyTIs during a larger science mission, which could then monitor volcanic gasses to predict eruptions or map soil moisture to aid crop management.”

HyTI will be delivered to NASA at the end of 2023, and will be launched on a Falcon 9 rocket as part of the SpaceX SpX-30 mission in early 2024. Advanced on-board computing will enable scientists to quickly access and analyze extremely high volumes of data.

Developing world-class technologies

From predicting volcanic eruptions in orbit, to analyzing soil composition from space, to detecting extraterrestrial life and improving space mission integration, HIGP has become a major player in advancing space exploration.

Renowned for its expertise in Earth and planetary science, HIGP bridges science and engineering, replicating the successful science-technology synergy that national laboratories like NASA’s Jet-Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have created to pioneer aerospace research, analysis and cutting-edge technologies. Every year, HIGP brings in nearly $7 million for space-science initiatives through lucrative grants from agencies such as NASA, the Department of Defense and National Science Foundation—approximately half of which are dedicated to instrumentation development.

“Designing scientific measuring instruments is not necessarily difficult, but producing instruments that can take accurate measurements from a spacecraft, where size, weight, power and environment are an issue, is,” Wright said. “Our faculty, researchers and ߣsir��Ƶ have become experts in miniaturizing some of the most innovative measurement tools. This allows us to be at the forefront of space exploration and competitive for greater opportunities where we can have a bigger impact.”

The centerpiece of HIGP’s space science initiatives is HSFL, a multidisciplinary research and education center formed in collaboration with ߣsir��Ƶ ����ԴDz�’s and the .

Established in 2007, HSFL’s reputation and resources skyrocketed after leading the state’s first and only rocket launch in 2015, which allowed it to design and build world-class facilities with state-of-the-art equipment including: clean rooms; thermal vacuum chamber; vibration table; and an attitude determination and control testbed simulator. These resources have helped HIGP design, build, test and operate world-class space instrumentation.

Since then, HIGP has developed a string of successful NASA-funded technology development projects in collaboration with its Spectral Technology Group and Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy Laboratory, including the Airborne Hyperspectral Imager, HyTI, Thermal Infrared Compact Imaging Spectrometer (TIRCIS), and the Miniature Infrared Detector for Atmospheric Sciences.

The compact spectroscopic technologies use interference phenomenon to measure long-wave infrared spectral radiance data (between 8–11 microns) to remotely identify and characterize the chemical composition of solids, gases and liquids. The key technology was developed by HIGP faculty member Paul Lucey, and is used under license by local technology company, Spectrum Photonics.

In addition to measurement tools, HSFL has developed a Comprehensive Open-architecture Solution for Mission Operations System (COSMOS) that provides integrated flight software, ground station and mission operations for small satellites. Funded by NASA’s Space Grant and Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, COSMOS proved its success on the NEUTRON-1 CubeSat and is now an integral part of all HSFL missions.

For more, . Noelo is ߣsir��Ƶ’s research magazine from the .

From space exploration using robotics to creating 3D printed wearable devices, 16 high school ߣsir��Ƶ from Oʻahu experienced a hands-on learning opportunity in the field of engineering through the University of ߣsir��Ƶʻi at ����ԴDz� College of Engineering’s .

The six-week rigorous curriculum provided an opportunity for participants to engage in engineering projects and assist college underߣsir��Ƶuates, researchers and professors with their research in state-of-the-art facilities. Students also participated in cultural programming, professional development workshops, and other enrichment activities, and made weekly site visits to engineering employers including Island Energy, ߣsir��Ƶian Electric Company, SSFM International, Burns & McDonnell, Booz Allen Hamilton, KAI ߣsir��Ƶi and NIWC Pacific. Many of these businesses and companies are led by ߣsir��Ƶ ����ԴDz� alumni.

“It’s great to be involved in helping these high school ߣsir��Ƶ find out what they want to do, I think that’s extremely important,” said ߣsir��Ƶ PhD engineering student and JESSE program lead Mandy Brinkmann. “It was very interesting to see how the interns started to grow within their labs and projects. All of them started out just doing research, and we did lab tours, and, of course they were engaged, but they just learned about the projects. Now after six weeks, they’re very proud of what they were able to do and they have already contributed a major part to the research projects.”

Dozens of applicants

The participants were incoming high school seniors from Punahou School, Myron B. Thompson Academy, Mililani High, Mid-Pacific Institute, Henry J. Kaiser High, Assets School, Kalani High, Roosevelt High, Farrington High, Damien Memorial School, Pearl City High, Kalaheo High and ߣsir��Ƶʻi Baptist Academy. Dozens of qualified ߣsir��Ƶ applied and priority was given to those with an interest in applying to ߣsir��Ƶ ����ԴDz�’s College of Engineering.

Aren Karr from Assets and Gabriel Canevari from Punahou worked with ߣsir��Ƶ’s on the Artemis CubeSat, a spaceflight-ready, educational, small 1U cube satellite. The technology has the potential to significantly advance aerospace education and provides a low-cost option for industries to send integrated payloads to space.

“I’ve actually learned a lot through this program. It really made me want to do engineering now,” Karr said. “It’s just a great program for kids to see if engineering is right for them.”

Canevari added, “I really enjoyed the program. I liked not only working in this lab for six weeks, but we’ve also been doing site visits around the island talking to people at engineering firms. I think that’s been really good to see the future of engineering in ߣsir��Ƶʻi, what the current is, what the past is and what people work on in their day-to-day. Here at the lab, it’s been a good opportunity to work with the team, work with people my age, work with people older than me and learn some new skills.”

For more information about the JESSE program, visit the .

—By Marc Arakaki

Five University of ߣsir��Ƶʻi-affiliated technology startups have been selected for a ߣsir��Ƶ innovation incubator, (HITIDE). This novel 24-month entrepreneurial program offers up to $50,000 in seed funding, customized education, mentorship and resources tailored to the unique needs of academic entrepreneurs to help them translate and advance ߣsir��Ƶ-developed, impact-driven technologies and solve real-world problems.

“We are extremely pleased to support this diverse group of startups that offer an exciting range and depth of innovative technologies developed through ߣsir��Ƶ research,” said Vassilis L. Syrmos, ߣsir��Ƶ vice president for research and innovation. “These technologies have the potential to significantly improve health care and training, space exploration and engineering design—and are prime examples of why it is so important that we support our researchers and create more entrepreneurial opportunities for them through novel programs like HITIDE.”

HITIDE’s cohort 2

Generative Design Software is an emerging, computer-aided artificial intelligence engineering technology and advanced algorithm developed by Marcelo Kobayashi, a mechanical engineering professor at ߣsir��Ƶ ����ԴDz�’s . With the capacity to intelligently pull various forms of data to improve engineering design, this technology can significantly reduce cost and the number of development cycles to prototyping in aerospace, automotive and building industries.

HI-Spectral is a groundbreaking snapshot hyperspectral imaging technology developed by Astronomer Haosheng Lin and Mechanical Engineer Morgan Bonnet at ߣsir��Ƶ’s . The technology has been used in astronomical observations and offers advanced characterization and identification of different substances in other applications including health, agriculture, Earth and environmental science.

Interstel Technologies offers a fully responsive mission operations system for robust, coordinated operation of satellites, UAVs and other vehicles in dynamic environments. Its iCOSMOS software was developed by the ߣsir��Ƶ ����ԴDz� (HSFL) Specialist and Project Manager Trevor Sorensen and his team: HSFL Lead Software Engineer Eric Pilger; HSFL Deputy Director and Systems Engineer Miguel Nunes; and Junior Software Engineer Lynzee Hoegger.

Mahina Aerospace includes a team from HSFL: Avionics Engineer and Program Manager Amber Imai-Hong; Assistant Researcher Frankie Zhu; Software Engineer Luke Clements; and Systems Integrator Chris Amendola. Their technology is a low-cost spaceflight-ready, educational, small 1U cube satellite. Paired with a collection of STEM curricula, the Artemis CubeSat has the potential to significantly advance aerospace education and provides a low-cost option for industries to send integrated payloads to space.

XRCore was developed by a team from the at ߣsir��Ƶ ����ԴDz�: Professor Scott Lozanoff; Technical Director of Anatomical Imaging Jesse Thompson; and Clinical Assistant Professor Thomas Noh. The company offers advanced image processing and 3D printing using artificial intelligence segmentation to enhance pre-surgical planning and clinical training for current and future clinicians.

“The majority of our cohort members and program candidates have full-time jobs and limited entrepreneurial experience, and they approach things from an academic versus business lens,” said George Yarbrough, HITIDE program lead and associate director, entrepreneurship programs for the . “We are looking at the ߣsir��Ƶʻi innovation pipeline and identifying how to strengthen the ecosystem by supporting academic entrepreneurs with developing their technologies into products and businesses that benefit our community and beyond. We hope that most of these early stage startups will go on and be accepted into other growth accelerators such as Elemental Excelerator.”

Virtual entrepreneurship program

Cohort members are currently participating in the regional National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps, a virtual entrepreneurship program that provides immersive and experiential training in how to test the market through customer discovery and create a business strategy to maximize innovation impact.

Following NSF I-Corps, cohort members will receive customized curriculum and training to: determine their technology’s product market fit; develop their startup business model and strategy; and pursue business development opportunities including fundraising, federal grants and customers.

Visit the for more information. ߣsir��Ƶ will begin recruiting for cohort 3 starting this summer. Additional updates will be released on the HITIDE website, or email hitide@hawaii.edu with questions.

NASA’s next launch attempt for the Artemis I mission is on November 16 at 1:04 a.m. EST (November 15, 8:04 p.m. HST), and University of ߣsir��Ƶʻi at ����ԴDz� researchers have created new technology to assist the Artemis project.

ߣsir��Ƶ ����ԴDz� researchers from the (HIGP) developed “foundation enablers” which are advancing the project’s satellite infrastructure for a prolonged presence on the Moon. Satellites are important communication devices to relay information from space to Earth. While the technology isn’t being used for the current Artemis I mission, NASA has funded the ߣsir��Ƶ research to develop the technology for use in future missions, while providing a training ground for budding middle school, high school and university student scientists.

Artemis I is an uncrewed mission to launch a rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft around the Moon and back to Earth to thoroughly test its system before future flights with astronauts. Artemis is part of the next era of human exploration to a sustainable presence on the Moon to prepare for missions to Mars.

“The Artemis program symbolizes a rebirth of America’s space program, drawing inspiration from the Apollo program, which was arguably the height of the United States’ crewed space program,” said Frances Zhu, HIGP assistant professor. “NASA is investing in technologies, but also the next generation of space scientists and engineers, which they call the Artemis generation. The NASA grant we received to build these satellites has allowed ߣsir��Ƶ to take a lead role in developing aerospace education tools, bolstering ߣsir��Ƶ’s efforts in establishing an aerospace engineering program.”

Artemis CubeSat project

Related: ߣsir��Ƶ awarded $500K to develop small-satellite educational kits, May 2020

ߣsir��Ƶ ����ԴDz� was one of six universities awarded space grants from NASA in 2020 as part of its Artemis Student Challenge program. Through the $750,000 grant, Zhu and her team developed low-cost CubeSat kits, which usually cost around $50,000–500,000, for around $5,000 per kit. The 1U kit includes onboard computing, communication components, dynamic sensors, an infrared camera and an electrical power system, as well as comprehensive, online educational materials on spacecraft mission design.

Through an additional $450,000 Governor’s Emergency Education Relief grant from Gov. David Ige in 2021, the team was also able to expand its educational materials, content and modifications to the kit for ߣsir��Ƶʻi public, private and charter school ߣsir��Ƶ in ߣsir��Ƶes 6–12. The kits will focus on educating and training the “Artemis generation,” the workforce that will design, build, fly and operate spacecraft that are a part of the Artemis program. The small satellites themselves can be launched around Earth or the Moon to support the Artemis missions.

NASA’s chief economist hopes that every state will launch a small satellite and ߣsir��Ƶʻi is supporting that mission by spearheading the design, fabrication and curriculum of small satellite kits. Once student teams have a kit in their classroom, they can conceptualize a space mission, design the satellite payload and body, and modify the kit to build that spacecraft.

“Building a spacecraft at the underߣsir��Ƶuate level is a rare opportunity, which gives participating ߣsir��Ƶ a headstart in real-world space applications that make them more competitive in the economic market and benefits the technological advancement of the space industry,” Zhu said. “Although student satellites are unlikely to function the first time, the experience of designing, building and potentially flying satellites is an immensely educational and fun activity that leads to grander space missions.”

So far, the team has been able to distribute three CubeSat kits to , Oklahoma State University and Cal Poly Pomona. The team plans to deliver 22 kits to colleges on every major ߣsir��Ƶian island and to six other states by the end of the year.

For more information about the Artemis CubeSat project, visit the .

—By Marc Arakaki

Scientists and educators from across the islands made an in-person return to the popular AstroDay event held at Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Hilo on May 14, a first in more than 2 years.

The annual event sponsored by the Maunakea Observatories and coordinated by the University of ߣsir��Ƶʻi (IfA) brought together more than 70 volunteers representing 20 organizations on ߣsir��Ƶʻi Island, Maui and Oʻahu to present science and technology activities and demonstrations to hundreds of keiki and adults.

“The volunteers and the public alike were talking about how great it was to be back,” said Carolyn Kaichi, IfA outreach and education specialist and coordinator of AstroDay. “In 2020, AstroDay activities were entirely virtual on YouTube, and in 2021, we had a hybrid version where we prepared kits of information and had the mall merchants giving them away. Being back in person to interact on location is so much more rewarding and fun!”

Event highlights included make-and-take planets, black hole demos, ultraviolet camera fun, solar viewing and many more astronomy related activities. Participants engaged in games and giveaways put on by the ߣsir��Ƶ Hilo , observatories from Maunakea and Haleakalā, ߣsir��Ƶʻi Space Flight Laboratory, National Weather Service, ߣsir��Ƶian Electric and the Pacific Tsunami Center.

Robots from the Hilo High Viking Robotics team and the ߣsir��Ƶi Science and Technology Museum were among some of the most popular attractions.

AstroDay also celebrates the Maunakea Coin Contest, a design competition open to all ߣsir��Ƶʻi Island ߣsir��Ƶ ߣsir��Ƶes K–12. The purpose of the contest is to give ߣsir��Ƶ a chance to artistically portray astronomy in ߣsir��Ƶʻi. Winners from an array of categories are recognized in a ceremony, and the grand prize winner’s design is printed on a commemorative coin which is handed out at the event.

AstroDay is celebrated in the spring in Hilo around International Astronomy Day, a world-wide event that honors all facets of astronomy. In the fall, AstroDay is also celebrated in Kona.