Space Flight

Hawai‘i is located in a unique position to become a low-cost gateway to space and to place the University of Hawai‘i as the only university in the world to have both satellite fabrication capabilities and unique, direct access to orbital space.  Through the Hawai‘i Space Flight Laboratory, SOEST students and staff are engaged in ongoing satellite fabrication, launch, and mission operations of satellite systems.

Established in May 2007, HSFL brings together individuals from diverse areas to work on the exploration and understanding of the space environment. Missions in development include nanosatellites and instrument packages for launch into low-Earth orbit, with launch support provided by the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kaua‘i. HSFL facilities available for use include: spacecraft avionics development, attitude control testbed, vibration table, thermal vacuum chambers, clean rooms, mission operations center, and ground stations.