A satellite designed and built by a team of more than 60 撸sir视频 and faculty from the University of 撸sir视频ʻi 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 撸sir视频 撸sir视频uate research assistant who traveled to Florida to watch the launch. “The launch represented a culmination of our team鈥檚 hard work and efforts over the past few years, and will remain one of my core memories of my time at 撸sir视频 Mānoa. I am incredibly fortunate to have worked with the team and had the opportunity to see the spacecraft go from concept to reality.”

撸sir视频 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 撸sir视频ʻi.”

Related story: Students, staff and faculty head to NASA launch of 撸sir视频 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.

撸sir视频 撸sir视频, staff and faculty have been actively involved in the development of the HyTI satellite, including six faculty members, 15 staff, eight 撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频, two post-docs, 30 under撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频 and six high school interns.

University of 撸sir视频ʻi at Mānoa under撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频 who have been developing a satellite to launch into space in 2024 earned a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Conseil Europ茅en pour la Recherche Nucl茅aire () In Switzerland for its RD51 Detector School November 27–December 1.

The RD51 Detector School is an intensive one week lecture and laboratory course. The school is primarily for PhD 撸sir视频, making it an incredible accomplishment to have three 撸sir视频 Mānoa under撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频 accepted.

“This is an extraordinary success for the under撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频, and for the (EPET) program, which has enabled all of this through its student-centered approach to high-quality under撸sir视频uate research and through its support to assist 撸sir视频 being successful in their learning and research efforts,” said Peter Englert, a professor in the (HIGP).

HIGP developed the EPET certificate to provide under撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频 with an opportunity to design research projects and build payloads for Earth, Moon and Sun observing satellites with the goal of producing, launching and operating their satellites.

Current EPET 撸sir视频 Sapphira Akins, Howin Ma and Chris Freitas applied to participate in the RD51 Detector School. Akins and Ma were accepted for in-person participation in Switzerland, and Freitas was accepted for participation in the online part of the school. All three 撸sir视频 are part of the CubeSat Relativistic Electron and Proton Energy Separator (CREPES) project.

“I feel very grateful to be able to study in a community such as the one at CERN!” said Akins. “Programs like these help me to push myself academically. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of micro patterned gaseous detectors, and ways in which we can implement them in space.”

“I believe that the insights and experiences I gain from being a part of such a prestigious institution will serve as a powerful source of motivation, inspiring me to set and achieve even higher standards for myself,” said Ma. “I also love traveling, and experiencing other cultures so I鈥檓 excited for my time in Switzerland.”

Mentorship from a leading expert

In spring 2023, to learn more about gas electron multiplier (GEM) detectors and their potential application to space research, EPET turned to Fabio Sauli of CERN. Sauli is the world’s leading expert on GEM and micro-pattern gaseous detectors. Sauli provided four Zoom lectures to the CREPES group with extensive discussion sessions, which provided the background knowledge in advancing the CREPES project.

The RD51 Detector School will provide Akins and Ma with additional skills that are important in the final design and assembly of the CREPES flight detector, which will be built in 2024. The learning modules of the school include gas detector physics and technologies, GEM foil manufacturing techniques, detector read out techniques, modeling and simulations. Akins and Ma will bring back advanced knowledge to help contribute to the success of the CREPES mission plan.

“In particular, we are working on a project here at 撸sir视频 that is attempting to put a gas electron multiplier in space, a detector that doesn鈥檛 appear to have any flight heritage,” said Akins. “Being able to receive valuable hands-on experience with this detector, and many similar, will be significant when it comes to understanding how to properly integrate it into a satellite.”

In November, the CREPES group will prepare a proposal to the CubeSat Launch Initiative to obtain support for the launch of their GEM detector mission into space at the end of 2024 or early 2025. Writing such a proposal is a significant task for a student research group.

supported the CERN opportunity through providing travel resources for the student鈥檚 participation. Students have been supported by internships, internships and conference travel grants.

Under撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频 at the University of 撸sir视频ʻi at Mānoa have the opportunity to get involved in space exploration and research through academic programs and internships offered through the (HIGP).

Three 撸sir视频 who are currently enrolled in the have explored research opportunities through internships with HIGP and (HSGC) and have contributed to space exploration through fields such as physics and engineering.

Student experiences

Stephan Devis, a junior pursuing a bachelor of science in physics, works on the Mastcam-Z instrument aboard NASA‘s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. The Mars 2020 project is in collaboration with Sarah Fagents, a volcanologist at HIGP and a co-investigator on the Mastcam-Z instrument.

“It was thrilling to be so involved in the delta campaign of one of the most momentous missions of our lifetime,” said Devis.

The experience Devis is gaining on the tactical operations team for Mars 2020 is applicable to the operations of any future mission.

“One of my career goals is to become a planetary scientist and to contribute to the future of space exploration and to a crewed mission to Mars,” said Devis. “The research opportunities I have found here at 撸sir视频 Mānoa are directly in line with these goals and are equipping me with skills that will put me in a better position to achieve them.”

Matthew Paulino, a junior in mechanical engineering with an aerospace concentration, is an HSGC intern where he has been able to apply mechanical engineering concepts to understand the process of creating a scientific instrument.

These opportunities provided Paulino with an understanding of what it takes to create scientific instruments, from management level of understanding to engineering applications.

“EPET is a unique opportunity for me because it gives me experience from the perspective of not only an engineer but also the perspective of scientists,” said Paulino. “In other words, scientists commission the engineer to create a scientific instrument and the engineer needs to understand what is needed from the scientist.”

Katlynn Vicuña is a senior in mechanical engineering with an aerospace concentration. As an HSGC intern, Vicuña has gained space exploration experience through working with vertically integrated project teams on satellites and rovers, she worked on a rocket team with a space grant through the NASA First Nations Launch, and worked as an 撸sir视频ʻi Space Flight Lab avionics assistant.

“It has been important because this has opened up my path to apply for Brooke Owens Fellowship where I was able to get an internship with Lockheed Martin Space for summer 2022,” said Vicuña. “Without these hands-on experiences, I do not think I would have been hired or chosen.”

More on EPET certification

EPET consists of four sequential courses in which under撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频 form a team, develop a CubeSat mission concept, and then go on to design and build it as a capstone project, with advising from Peter Englert and others.

The EPET certificate program is for 撸sir视频 enrolled in science and engineering under撸sir视频uate degree programs at 撸sir视频 Mānoa, 撸sir视频 System campuses, and other universities. The program can also accommodate professionals working in the community who wish to up撸sir视频e knowledge and skills.

The next cohort of 撸sir视频 for the EPET certification program will begin in spring 2023. .

A team of 撸sir视频 and faculty from the launched a 10.5-foot custom rocket they built in the 2022 Come-Back competition in Nevada. This year鈥檚 ARLISS competition hosted 15 teams, including teams from Japan, Mexico and Costa Rica. The 撸sir视频 team was the lone U.S. representative.

“Here in the Black Rock desert, we are the only American team representing,” said Caleb Yuen from Honolulu CC. “I think it鈥檚 important for all the 撸sir视频 of community colleges and universities to come out here to learn the fundamentals and the basic rules of rocketry.”

is a faculty-student enterprise of multiple 撸sir视频 Community College campuses in affiliation with the 撸sir视频ʻi Space Grant Consortium. Project Imua鈥檚 primary mission is to experiment with high-powered rocketry and to design and fabricate small payloads for space flight.

More Project Imua stories

The September launch, or Project Imua Mission 11, was a mixed success. The rocket flew and one of two parachutes deployed properly. The rocket contained a land rover designed and assembled by that did not exit the rocket and maneuver autonomously as planned. An atmospheric detector designed and assembled by collected data during the rocket flight that will be analyzed by the team.

“That鈥檚 rocket science,” said Project Imua Manager Joe Ciotti, a Windward CC professor. “But like the recent Artemis setbacks, each failure is taken as an opportunity to learn and improve for the next flight.”

Seven members of the Project Imua Mission 11 team also launched individual rockets they built in a event to earn various National Association of Rocketry certifications.

“Both Honolulu Community College and Windward Community College have a lot of funding and programs that 撸sir视频 can get into. They don鈥檛 need to be in STEM-related careers,” said Honolulu CC team member D’Elle Martin. “It鈥檚 pretty fun and it exposes you to a lot of the possibilities and research projects you can get into.”

Stay tuned for more about Project Imua Mission 12 in 2023.

—By Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

“Out of this world” is one way to describe the incredible video captured by a University of 撸sir视频ʻi Community College experiment nearly 100 miles above Earth.

On August 11, a 44-foot NASA sounding rocket blasted off from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia carrying a scientific experiment designed by Project Imua Mission 10 撸sir视频 into space.

Project Imua is a joint faculty-student enterprise of multiple 撸sir视频 Community College campuses in affiliation with the that provides 撸sir视频 with real-world, project-based learning opportunities. 撸sir视频 designed and built a camphor-powered sublimation rocket (named ScubeR, for Super Simple Sublimation Rocket) that was deployed at the peak of the NASA rocket鈥檚 flight—at 99 miles altitude. The team designed two cameras and measurement devices to monitor the sublimation rocket鈥檚 motion.

Project manager Joe Ciotti, a Windward CC professor, calls the video captured by that Project Imua camera in space “visually spectacular.”

Ciotti continued, “The opening shows the limb of the Earth against the blackness of space and clouds covering the Atlantic. It then pans to show the second stage (of the sounding rocket) that separated moments ago, spinning as it falls back to Earth. Nearby is the outer protective skirt, tumbling after being dropped from the payload section. 鈥�(later), ScubeR begins to be deployed in the straight direction it was designed to follow.”

Project leader and Windward CC student Jared Estrada said, “Working the math and sticking with the science and engineering process we believe we have something that works and ultimately leads to success within the mission. I think it鈥檚 very successful.”

It鈥檚 been an amazing experience for the aspiring research and development physicist and the 15-member team.

Estrada said, “I would say Mission 10 is an excellent opportunity for 撸sir视频 and overall awe inspiring for the scientific and engineering process.”

For Caleb Yuen, the Honolulu CC student responsible for developing the video cameras, the views of space were breathtaking.

Next up, Project Imua Mission 11. The team plans to launch a custom-built rocket equipped with a land rover and atmospheric detector at the ARLISS 2022 Come-Back competition in Nevada in September.

—By Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

Mission accomplished! At 12:08 p.m. HST on August 11, 2022, a 44-foot NASA sounding rocket blasted off from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia carrying a scientific experiment designed by University of 撸sir视频ʻi Community College 撸sir视频 about 91 miles into space.

Project Imua is a joint faculty-student enterprise of multiple 撸sir视频 Community College campuses in affiliation with the that provides 撸sir视频 with real-world, project-based learning opportunities. Students from Windward CC and Honolulu CC had been working on Project Imua Mission 10 for months and were delighted to see their “baby” finally take flight.

撸sir视频 designed and built a camphor-powered sublimation rocket that was deployed at the peak of the NASA rocket鈥檚 flight鈥攁t approximately 91 miles altitude. The team designed a camera system and inertial measurement unit devices to monitor the sublimation rocket鈥檚 motion.

Project leader Jared Estrada, a Windward CC student, said, “The launch was an amazing spectacle that served as a crowning achievement for the scientific endeavors of Project Imua.”

Project Imua provided hands-on rocketry experience both in 撸sir视频ʻi and at NASA. In June, two 撸sir视频 traveled to the Wallops facility to run final tests on their Project Imua payload.

• Related 撸sir视频 News story: Payload for space launch tested at NASA facility, June 26, 2022

A few days prior to the launch, the rest of the Project Imua team was in Virginia for fine tuning and final integration.

“The hands-on, authentic research conducted by our 撸sir视频 Community College 撸sir视频 challenges them to set their sights on lofty goals, while building the demanding skills required in high-tech, STEM careers,” said Project Manager Joe Ciotti, a Windward CC professor. “They鈥檝e learned through their intense year-long collaboration with NASA engineers that, when it comes to dreams and achievements, the sky鈥檚 the limit.”

More Project Imua stories

After reaching its peak, the payload carrying the experiments descended by parachute and landed in the Atlantic Ocean, off the Virginia coast. Plans were for the 撸sir视频 to receive their flown experiments and any stored data after the payload was recovered from the ocean.

More Project Imua missions are scheduled to fly for 撸sir视频鈥檚 future rocket scientists.

—By Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

Editors note, August 10: NASA postponed the August 10 launch until August 11, due to bad weather at Wallops Flight Facility.

Editors note, August 9: NASA postponed the August 9 launch until August 10, when payload recovery conditions are projected to be more favorable.

A team from the has spent the past week at NASA鈥檚 Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia preparing for a rocket to launch the scientific experiment they designed and built into space. Launch is scheduled for August 9, between 5:30–9 p.m. EDT (11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. HST), with live coverage on the .

is a faculty-student enterprise of multiple 撸sir视频 Community College campuses in affiliation with the that provides 撸sir视频 with real-world, project-based learning opportunities. This includes experimenting with high-power rocketry, and designing and fabricating small payloads for space flight. In the 撸sir视频ian language, imua means to move forward.

The 撸sir视频 have been collaborating for months. 撸sir视频 designed and built a camphor-powered sublimation rocket that should be deployed at the peak of the NASA rocket鈥檚 flight—at approximately 91 miles altitude. The team designed a camera system and inertial measurement unit devices to monitor the sublimation rocket鈥檚 motion.

Their experiment is one of six developed by college and university teams across the nation that will launch on a 44-foot-tall Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket. After reaching its peak, the payload carrying the experiments will descend by parachute and is expected to land in the Atlantic Ocean, about 64 miles off the Virginia coast. The 撸sir视频 will receive their flown experiments and any stored data after the payload is recovered from the ocean.

“I鈥檓 looking forward to launch because of all the hard work we鈥檝e put into this project to really make sure it succeeds,” said Honolulu CC student Frank Bolanos IV. “There鈥檚 a lot of work that went into it and a lot of time and waiting and excitement. So to see it actually go up is going to be incredible.”

The experiments are being flown through the in conjunction with the Colorado Space Grant Consortium. RockSat-X gives 撸sir视频 at post-secondary institutions the experience of building experiments for space flight.

“RockSat-X provides 撸sir视频 an opportunity to improve their skills through experiment development and then analyzing their data following the launch,” said Giovanni Rosanova, chief of the Sounding Rockets Program Office at Wallops. “Programs like these are vital in preparing 撸sir视频 for careers after 撸sir视频uation.”

Mission 10 represents the fourth time that a 撸sir视频 Project Imua payload will be launched into outer space. The first Project Imua payload was launched from Wallops in 2015.

includes a list of other participating institutions and descriptions of the 撸sir视频鈥� spaceflight technology projects.

—By Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

Two University of 撸sir视频ʻi Community College 撸sir视频 and their advisor spent more than a week at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to prepare their scientific payload for a space launch in August. They are part of a team of 撸sir视频 who have been collaborating on this project for months.

撸sir视频 designed and built a small, light-weight rocket that will convert camphor to gas to propel its release into space at the peak of the NASA rocket鈥檚 flight. The team designed a camera system and inertial measurement devices to monitor the motion of the small experimental rocket. The entire payload is less than a foot long, weighs less than 15 pounds and is almost entirely encased in aluminum.

• Read more 撸sir视频 News stories on the Project Imua program.

Students trouble-shoot payload

After the payload failed an initial power test, Windward CC student Nikki Arakawa, the rocket team lead, had to rewire the interface and power connections. Following another successful power test, Arakawa was able to turn the payload over to the Wallops integration team for placement in the rocket to be launched in August.

Arakawa, who 撸sir视频uated with her bachelor鈥檚 degree in electrical engineering from 撸sir视频 M膩noa in May 2022 and was recently part of an award-winning rocketry team, said she is now considering going to 撸sir视频uate school to study aerospace mechanical engineering.

“I only just had a chance to start trying out all these things, and it just feels like—gosh I just wish I started this a lot earlier,” she said.

While at NASA, D鈥橢lle Martin, the team lead for Honolulu CC, ran checks on the various systems, including the video capture units.

“What I realized throughout this project and through my previous project with Honolulu Community College—through both electronics programming and model rocketry—is that even though you might have a major that may not be necessarily towards engineering, you can still learn a lot about working in a team, but also different pathways to STEM careers,” Martin said.

The current 撸sir视频 M膩noa architecture student said the Project Imua experience has inspired her to consider the nascent specialization of space architecture.

Arakawa and Martin were accompanied by mentor Jacob Hudson from Windward CC. Mentor Shidong Kan, a Honolulu CC associate professor of physics, will escort four 撸sir视频 to the NASA facility for final integration of the payload onto the rocket and launch, which is tentatively scheduled for August 9.

Mission 10 is funded through the and represents the fourth time that a 撸sir视频 Project Imua payload will be launched into outer space.

The first Project Imua payload was launched from Wallops in 2015.

A NASA rocket scheduled for space launch in August will carry a scientific payload designed and built by 撸sir视频. When the rocket launched from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia reaches sub-orbital flight, it will release the student-built experiment.

The 撸sir视频 have been collaborating on this project for months. 撸sir视频 designed and built a camphor-powered sublimation rocket that will convert the camphor to gas to propel the small, light-weight rocket once the payload is released at the peak of the NASA rocket鈥檚 flight. The team designed a camera system and inertial measurement unit devices to monitor the sublimation rocket鈥檚 motion. The entire payload is less than a foot long, weighs less than 15 pounds and is almost entirely encased in aluminum.

“Project-based research like Mission 10 offers 撸sir视频 Community College 撸sir视频 unique opportunities to explore and prepare for high-tech, STEM careers while working alongside NASA engineers,” said Project Manager Joe Ciotti, a Windward CC professor. “For these 撸sir视频, this really is rocket science and one powerful confidence builder.”

Project Imua (to move forward in ʻ艒lelo 撸sir视频ʻi) is a joint faculty-student enterprise of multiple 撸sir视频 Community College campuses in affiliation with the that provides 撸sir视频 with real-world, project-based learning opportunities. Students experiment with high-power rocketry and design and fabricate small payloads for space flight. and have been part of earlier missions.

Later in June, Windward CC faculty mentor Jacob Hudson, Windward CC team lead Nikki Arakawa and Honolulu CC team lead D鈥橢lle Martin will travel to the NASA facility to run the Project Imua Mission 10 payload through rigorous testing. Mission 10 represents the fourth time that a 撸sir视频 Project Imua payload will be launched into outer space. The first Project Imua payload was launched from Wallops in 2015.

Read more 撸sir视频 News stories on the Project Imua program.

Four 撸sir视频 are participating in a global mission to send 500 small satellites to the moon by 2023.

Associate Professor Jung Park and 撸sir视频 Angelica Juarez, Delaun Prentice, Tishri Prentice and Christian Falcon recently returned from a four-day workshop called the (GLEE) at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

GLEE is a mission to the surface of the Moon that will conduct science and test technology with hundreds of five-gram satellites called 鈥淟unaSats鈥� built by 撸sir视频 around the world. The workshop was split into 12 modules that introduced the GLEE 2023 mission and analyzed every individual component of the satellites. It concluded with each team creating a unique science mission that will be performed on the Moon.

“The GLEE workshop was incredibly inspiring and introduced our teams to a whole world of programming, circuits and sensors, and their applications on our planet and in Space,” said Falcon. “I am grateful to have been a part of such an informative hands-on workshop, where we鈥檝e been inspired to expand our knowledge in engineering.”

The workshop was organized and led by under撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频 from the University of Colorado who guided participants in testing the first iteration of LunaSat production. Almost 40 撸sir视频 from universities and colleges across the country participated and formed 19 teams.

Park said that he and the 撸sir视频 Maui College 撸sir视频 enjoyed sharing their love for astronomy and space exploration with dozens of like-minded 撸sir视频 and faculty. They are looking forward to joining the worldwide workshop in April 2022.

“I loved meeting other 撸sir视频 from around the county and working with my team,” said Juarez. “I feel that I learned a lot about coding and about different sensors and I鈥檓 excited to join the workshop again in April and hope to encourage others to join as well.”

The sponsored the bulk of the workshop trip, with additional support from the Colorado Space Grant Consortium.