Jane Edwards
United Launch Alliance has introduced a science, technology, engineering and math education program that aims to encourage university students to launch their miniaturized satellites for free onboard the Boeing–Lockheed Martin joint venture’s future rocket missions.
“ULA will offer universities the chance to compete for at least six CubeSat launch slots on two Atlas V missions, with a goal to eventually add university CubeSat slots to nearly every Atlas and Vulcan launch,” Tory Bruno, president and CEO of ULA, said in a statement released Thursday.
ULA encourages student teams from colleges and universities to partner with K-12 schools and notify the company of their interest to compete in the program by Dec. 18.
The JV will issue a request for proposal early next year and announce the chosen universities by August 2016.
Bruno said ULA has given STEM students from the University of Colorado Boulder the first free slot to send their small satellite into space by 2017.
He announced the program with Philip DiStefano, chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder; and Bruce Benson, president of the University of Colorado.
