Last August, the SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida carrying nearly 8,200 pounds of supplies to the International Space Station. Included in the cargo was a CubeSat –– a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites –– entirely designed and built by Iowa State University students.
The CubeSat, Cy SAT-1, is designed to measure soil moisture using a software-defined radiometer. Its mission includes providing crucial data for agricultural and environmental research.
The launch marked a major achievement for Iowa State’s Make to Innovate program, involving students from aerospace, mechanical, and electrical engineering, as well as computer science, biology, and meteorology majors.
“This was an incredible opportunity,” says Matthew Nelson, faculty advisor for the project. “Normally, students don’t get to design, build, and fly space hardware. Other schools focus mainly on payloads, but this satellite was built entirely by our students.”
Alexis Locati (’24), who served as project manager from 2022 to 2024 and now works as a project engineer at Orbion Space Technology, played a key role in bringing Cy SAT-1 to flight readiness.
“I created detailed schedules and plans for the project and team, and ensured everyone followed the plan,” Locati says. “With the team’s help, we got the satellite to a flight-ready state.”
In May 2024, Locati and the team traveled to Houston to deliver Cy SAT-1 for integration with the launch vehicle. There, the satellite was fitted into a capsule known as a “P-Pod.” The team then attended the launch in Florida.
“Once on the International Space Station, astronauts deployed the satellite; it will follow the orbit of the station until its orbit decays,” Locati says. “It was an honor to be the final person to handle Cy SAT-1 before it went to space.”
Despite the technical challenges and complexity of building a satellite, the project has been a success. About 10 students were involved each semester, and Nelson says it was rewarding to see their growth throughout the process.
Looking ahead, the project will serve as a launchpad for future space initiatives at Iowa State.
“This shows how our students take these experiences with them beyond graduation,” Nelson says. “There are a lot of things we do in space that can impact our state.”
For the students involved, the Cy SAT-1 mission has provided invaluable hands-on experience.
“It was a great accomplishment from an educational and professional standpoint,” Locati says.