Weather delays Sonoma States student-built 3UCubed satellite, launch expected next week - Local News Matters

The launch of the 3UCubed satellite, designed by Sonoma State University students, has been delayed due to bad weather. Initially scheduled for Thursday, the new launch date is expected to be after next Wednesday, according to spokesperson Jeff Keating. This CubeSat, developed as part of NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe mission, aims to measure atmospheric density and electron precipitation in the upper atmosphere. A collaborative effort between students from Sonoma State, Howard University, and the University of New Hampshire, the project spanned five years and involved about 70 students. Logan Rubalcava, a 2024 physics graduate, emphasized the valuable lessons learned in collaboration and perseverance while working on the satellite.

The satellite, approximately the size of a loaf of bread, will orbit in the thermosphere, similar to the International Space Station. The fully assembled CubeSat is currently located at the University of New Hampshire. Sonoma State University will update the public on the new launch schedule as it becomes available.