Hawaii Space Grant Consortium

UHM Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory

Program Type: Research Program

HSFL participated as a project managing partner for the Operationally Responsive Space-4 Mission. ORS-4 was the first attempted orbital space launch from Hawaii. Unfortunately, there were problems with the Super-Strypi rocket and the satellites did not make orbit. Although it did not make orbit, 130 students helped with the design, fabrication, and testing of HiakaSat, the primary ORS-4 payload. HSFL received accolades from the Air Force for being a highly professional organization that delivered more with less people and delivered on budget. HSFL staff are also mentoring the Project IMUA group and New Mexico Payloads to Space project to help to fabricate and test suborbital payloads. After ORS-4, HSFL has received queries about participating in a second Super-Strypi launch. HSFL is a strategic partner (UH-USPACOM MOU) with USPACOM on small satellite projects that are of interest to the Navy and USPACOM region in the Pacific. HSFL is working with NASA Ames on CubeSat test projects using COSMOS a mission control software architecture that can be used to control multiple CubeSats. Finally, HSGC and HSFL are working with the Hawaii State Department of Labor to establish small launch capabilities on the Big Island and develop new workforce opportunities in aerospace using Department of Labor funds. Please note that HSFL executed a launch campaign with a limited staff. NASA Launch Program Manager Garrett Skrobot was at the launch, and said to Dr. Flynn, this never happens. Never has the University and the Air Force teamed up to develop a new launch vehicle. This does not happen. No one gets this far. No matter what happens, you have my congratulations to get to this day and to get to the launch pad. HSFL was invited to write two DoD Special Operations Command proposals, and one proposal to the Office of Secretary of Defense Test Resource Management Center. These proposals are still pending.