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Gif image of CubeSats being deployed
The launch of five CubeSats on ELaNa 45 on July 14, 2022, from Kennedy Space Center, FL.
BisonSat is an Earth science mission

CubeSat Launch Initiative

NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative provides opportunities for CubeSats built by U.S. educational institutions, and non-profit organizations, including informal educational institutions such as museums and science centers to fly on upcoming launches. Through innovative technology partnerships NASA provides these CubeSat developers a low-cost pathway to conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in space, thus enabling students, teachers, and faculty to obtain hands-on flight hardware design, development, and build experience.

Learn More about CubeSat Launch Initiative

CSLI ELaNa Missions – Educational Launch of Nanosatellites

NASA’s Launch Services Program manifests CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) payloads with a variety of launch providers. Each launch with manifested CSLI payloads is called an ELaNa mission (Educational Launch of Nanosatellites) and is given an ELaNa mission number (e.g., ELaNa 49, ELaNa 50).

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen at sunrise as the Moon sets Feb. 9, 2020.

Upcoming ELaNa Launches

Find more information on the upcoming ELana CubeSat launches.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 5, 2019.

Past ELaNa Launches

Learn about the history of ELaNa Cubesat launches.

A group of engineering students work on a CubeSat in the laboratory.

How to Apply

CSLI’s Announcements of Partnership Opportunity is typically released each August with proposals due in November. 

NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative has launched over 150 CubeSats.