UM RAX (Radio Aurora Explorer) Cubesat to launch this Friday w/ fairing pic
Someone posted about this topic about a month ago but I just wanted to bring it back to the front page. UM's best and brightest will be launching their very own cubesat on the S26 mission from KLC up in Alaska. Fear not for the weather is a balmy 34 degrees, thank you global warming. Current forecasts show that all weather is nominal and a go for launch on Friday.
Being a Michigan fan and having worked on one of the payloads on this mission figured I would update and share with you all. And now some links.
Live Video: note my work blocks the video so not sure if it's working
http://spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/stps26/status.html
RAX site: http://rax.engin.umich.edu/
Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-michigan-satellit,0,453486…
Kodiak News: http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=9315
Space News: http://www.spacenews.com/military/101112-stps26-mission-loaded-new-tech…
Picture of the fairing as well
November 17th, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^
Michigan's space exploration lately has been second to none. Leaders and best.
Also, do we have another AOSS alum on the board?
November 17th, 2010 at 11:01 AM ^
I actually had to look up what AOSS meant. I actually work on another payload on the rocket which has nothing to do with RAX. Sadly I was out of the office when one of our PM's was selling the RAX patch so I missed out on adding a UM patch. sigh....
November 17th, 2010 at 10:29 PM ^
But my company builds satellites. Rocket scientists are my bitches.
November 17th, 2010 at 11:05 AM ^
Combo AOSS and Aero degree... RAX is especially gratifying to me as the student sat I built at UM, Icarus, never got launched due to delays with the NASA side of the mission and us getting kicked off our ride literally weeks before launch for a higher priority USAF payload.
The RAX team, led by Prof Jamie Cutler who was an absolute steal for UM, has done a great job-- I was one of the alumni reviewers at the design reviews and they covered all the bases.
Good luck, and good hunting!
