HIGP’s Aerospace effort facilitates the exploration of the Earth and planets by:
- Designing, building, testing, launching, and operating small satellites from the Hawaiian Islands.
- Augmenting orbital observations with higher temporal and spatial analysis using unmanned aerial systems.
The centerpiece of HIGP’s Aerospace effort is the Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL).
HSFL is a collaboration between SOEST and UH Mānoa’s College of Engineering. HSFL provides vertically integrated small space mission solutions and acts as a catalyst for an aerospace industry in our State by providing local facilities to design, fabricate, test, launch, and communicate with satellites.
Click to Read More Launch: HSFL facilitates launch in the “geo-advantageous” State of Hawaiʻi to promote a new local aerospace economy. On November 3, 2015, HSFL participated in the Operationally Responsive Space-4 Mission from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauaʻi, assisting rocket development via a strategic agreement with Aerojet-Rocketdyne, and building and operating the world’s largest rail launcher. HSFL is now assisting US commercial companies with the next launch. Unmanned Aerial Systems: HSFL is working with Japanese companies HAPSMobile and Softbank to create a temporary UAS test range on Lānaʻi. HSFL will manage the development and operation of the range, supporting very-high altitude and long-duration UAS flights. Well above commercial air routes, such UAS could be very beneficial for long-duration, large-area monitoring of local hazards such as volcanic eruptions and forest fires. Mission Operations: HSFL maintains UHF/VHF, S-band and X-band ground stations. HSFL has also developed mission operations software system called COSMOS. Including flight software for satellites, COSMOS is designed to run autonomously and handle the command/control and data downlinks from multiple small satellites. Workforce Development: In the last five years, HSFL faculty and engineers have provided interdisciplinary experiential learning opportunities for approximately 300 students of which 55% are underrepresented and about 30% are women. HSFL will train an increasing number of students in the future since ME296 Design Class and ME496 Senior Design Class have sections that focus on HSFL issues. The HIGP Earth and Planetary Exploration Technology certificate (EPET) features a Spacecraft Mission Design course and a senior-level interdisciplinary Small Mission Development course.
