Fiscal Year 2011 University NanoSatellite Program | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Fiscal Year 2011 University NanoSatellite Program (AFOSR BAA 2010-6) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), run in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV). Its purpose is to strengthen and sustain university-level research, hands-on education, and workforce development focused on small satellites, specifically nanosatellites, along with the technologies and mission concepts that make those satellites practical for real space operations. In this program, a "nanosat" is defined as a satellite with a mass of 50 kg or less and physical dimensions no larger than 50 x 50 x 60 cm.

The program is built around a very concrete deliverable: each funded university project is expected to produce the design, fabrication, and functional testing of a nanosatellite. In other words, this is not just a paper study or early laboratory work. The central expectation is that student and faculty teams will engineer a complete nanosat system and demonstrate that it functions through meaningful ground-based testing. Beyond the primary build-and-test focus, the program also encourages proposals that advance enabling technologies for nanosats (things like subsystems, integration approaches, miniaturized components, or other technical innovations that improve capability within tight mass and volume constraints). Another secondary objective is the development of experiments suited for nanosats to perform once in orbit, supporting payload concepts and mission designs that can realistically fit on small satellite platforms.

A separate, but closely related, activity is an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) competition that recognizes a small number of nanosat projects that demonstrate credible readiness for launch and on-orbit operation. This competition functions as an additional screening and recognition pathway tied to the overall ecosystem of the program. After the competition review, AFOSR and AFRL/RV may invite one or more teams to submit a second proposal. Those follow-on proposals are reviewed using the same evaluation criteria referenced in the Broad Agency Announcement, and awards depend on the availability of funds. If selected, projects may receive up to an additional two years of funding, aimed specifically at maturing the nanosat to the point where it could be considered for a possible launch opportunity. AFRL/RV also signals an active, hands-on role with participants, emphasizing space-worthy design and fabrication practices and helping selected nanosat efforts prepare for launch considerations.

From an eligibility and administrative standpoint, the opportunity is aimed at higher education institutions, including public/state-controlled universities and private universities. The funding instrument is a grant, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which reduces barriers for academic teams that may not have access to non-federal matching funds. The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $110,000. The program is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and it falls under CFDA 12.800, the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program.

Key dates associated with the posted opportunity include a posted date and creation date of August 20, 2010, with an original and current closing date of October 15, 2010, and an archive date of November 14, 2010. For access issues or submission-related difficulties tied to the full announcement, the notice directs applicants to use the AFOSR BAA electronic submission contact email referenced in the posting.

Overall, the grant opportunity is best understood as a university-focused nanosatellite build program with a strong educational and workforce-development component, backed by Air Force research organizations that want to see practical, testable satellite systems emerge from campus teams. It combines near-term engineering deliverables (design, build, functional testing) with a pathway for a smaller number of teams to pursue longer-term maturation toward launch readiness, supported by additional funding and direct engagement from AFRL/RV.

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