Uploaded January 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Two BYU-built CubeSats were successfully deployed into orbit on January 17 as part of a historic Virgin Orbit flight to deliver NASA-sponsored payloads to space by way of a Boeing 747. The Passive Inspection CubeSats (PICS) are the first fully autonomous satellites to be designed and built by Brigham Young University engineering students, who spent six years on the design and construction.
This is the first successful launch for a new Virgin Orbit system which launched the rocket from the wing of a Boeing 747. Once the plane reached altitude, the rocket was released and then ignited and carried its cargo into space. Virgin Orbit, which is only the third commercial company to successfully deliver cargo into space, and the first to use this new plane-based launch system, hopes to make satellite deployment more accessible for both research and industry.
Last week's test launch carried 10 CubeSats from various universities, all sponsored by NASA"s Undergraduate Student Instrumentation Program (USIP) and the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CLSI). BYU's PICS CubeSats (Passive Inspection CubeSats), which also received support from BYU's Fulton College of Engineering, have been under research and development for six years and have involved more than 50 students from BYU's electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering majors. The two PICS satellites function like spacecraft "selfie cams" because they have cameras on all sides and can assess damage to an orbiting spacecraft from the outside of the craft. Learn more about the BYU project here: bit.ly/3a39xjV
One week after the successful launch, BYU students have not yet been able to make contact with their PICS satellites or download footage or data, since the CubeSats have not yet flown directly over the BYU campus. From early indications, which show flashes emanating from the CubeSats upon release from the rocket, the devices successfully deployed after they were released into orbit.
Special thanks to Virgin Orbit (virginorbit.com) for additional video footage.
Two BYU-built CubeSats were successfully deployed into orbit on January 17 as part of a historic Virgin Orbit flight to deliver NASA-sponsored payloads to space by way of a Boeing 747. The Passive Inspection CubeSats (PICS) are the first fully autonomous satellites to be designed and built by Brigham Young University engineering students, who spent six years on the design and construction.
This is the first successful launch for a new Virgin Orbit system which launched the rocket from the wing of a Boeing 747. Once the plane reached altitude, the rocket was released and then ignited and carried its cargo into space. Virgin Orbit, which is only the third commercial company to successfully deliver cargo into space, and the first to use this new plane-based launch system, hopes to make satellite deployment more accessible for both research and industry.
Last week's test launch carried 10 CubeSats from various universities, all sponsored by NASA"s Undergraduate Student Instrumentation Program (USIP) and the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CLSI). BYU's PICS CubeSats (Passive Inspection CubeSats), which also received support from BYU's Fulton College of Engineering, have been under research and development for six years and have involved more than 50 students from BYU's electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering majors. The two PICS satellites function like spacecraft "selfie cams" because they have cameras on all sides and can assess damage to an orbiting spacecraft from the outside of the craft. Learn more about the BYU project here: bit.ly/3a39xjV
One week after the successful launch, BYU students have not yet been able to make contact with their PICS satellites or download footage or data, since the CubeSats have not yet flown directly over the BYU campus. From early indications, which show flashes emanating from the CubeSats upon release from the rocket, the devices successfully deployed after they were released into orbit.
Special thanks to Virgin Orbit (virginorbit.com) for additional video footage.
