SU students to build satellite for Virginia Space ThinSat Launch

Image: Katie Curtin

SALISBURY, Md. – Eight Salisbury University Physics students have been chosen to construct a satellite to be sent into space, as part of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority’s ThinSat program.

A ThinSat is a small satellite, approximately the size of a slice of bread, that sends data back to Earth’s surface for analysis. The Virginia Space program gives students the opportunity to develop satellite hardware, test sensor, components and collect data.

Virginia Space created and funded the ThinSat program in an effort to increase student engagement and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Their long-term goal is to build a local, agile workforce that is capable of performing 21st century jobs.

Locally, James M. Bennett High School and Salisbury Middle School were chosen for the program, along with SU.

“Our students have the opportunity to design and build a satellite that will be launched on an Northrop Grumman rocket headed to the International Space Station,” said Dr. Steven Binz of SU’s Physics Department.

He also says that for the first two semesters, students will focus on constructing and testing the satellite. The final semester will be spent analyzing the data.

The launch is currently set for November 2019.