Laboratory for Advanced Space Systems at Illinois
We are training the next generation of engineers on the design, development and testing of CubeSats. Come join us!
We need undergraduates in mechanical, electrical, aerospace engineering and computer science who bring their unique expertise to teams that tackle space-bound projects in our lab.
You'll get hands-on experience while learning the complete life cycle of small satellites.
To be a stronger contributor consider taking:
- AE 298 - Intro to Nanosatellite Design
- Eng 491- Nanosatellite Design and Build 1
Ongoing Programs
LASSI operates five active programs:
SEAQUE, MonARCH, IlliniSat, DarkNESS and COSSMO
Space Entanglement and Annealing QUantum Experiment (SEAQUE)
The Space Entanglement and Annealing QUantum Experiment is a collaboration between LASSI, The Grainger College of Engineering's Physics Department, the University of Waterloo, the National University of Singapore, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, GRC, and AdVR, Inc. The mission tests use annealing to repair radiation damage in crystalline single-photon detectors, a key technology for space-based quantum communication, as well as the generation and detection of quantumly entangled photons.
SEAQUE is a 6U payload mounted externally on the International Space Station. It launched aboard a Falcon 9 on CRS-31 on November 4, 2024. Installed on the Materials International Space Station Experiment platform, SEAQUE was powered up on November 21, 2024, and will operate for approximately one year before being returned to Earth. Lead engineer: Liam Ramsey
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-jpl-prepping-for-full-year-of-launches-mission-milestones/
MonARCH -A Monopropellant Multi-mode Propulsion CubeSat Mission
The Monopropellant Advanced Research CubeSat Hardware is LASSI’s and the Electric Propulsion Lab’s technology demonstration mission featuring a multimode propulsion system and a novel monopropellant. It integrates a chemical thruster for orbit phasing and an electric thruster for attitude control, all within a compact formfactor. MonARCH aims to advance formation flying capabilities by enabling precise orbit maintenance and maneuvering using the dual-use propellant. The mission focuses on demonstrating efficient propulsion in a low-volume package to support future small satellite applications.
MonARCH is a result of the Airforce Research Laboratory’s University Nanosatellite Program and completed its Mission Concept Review in February 2025 with a System Requirements Review in April 2025. Lead engineers: Michael Harrigan and Logan Thompson
IlliniSat - The University of Illinois in-house designed CubeSat Bus
IlliniSat is LASSI’s modular small satellite platform designed for flexible mission configurations and rapid development. IlliniSat provides a standardized bus architecture that supports a range of payloads, making it adaptable for various research, educational and technology demonstration missions. IlliniSat’s modules can be interchanged based on mission performance requirements. The modules can be reconfigured in a total of three different configurations, allowing the payload to operate on any face of the spacecraft.
IlliniSat’s structure has recently been prototyped and a Flatsat--non-integrated interconnected version of the bus hardware--is in the final design stages. This Flatsat would be used by all future CubeSat programs to verify and validate the CubeSat’s hardware selection earlier in the development process. Lead engineer: James Helmich
Fermilab, in collaboration with LASSI, is leading the DarkNESS misson--Dark matter as a sterile NEutrino Search Satellite. The mission is to investigate one of the biggest unsolved questions in physics: the existence of dark matter. DarkNESS will search for signals from the decay of sterile neutrinos—potential dark matter candidates—by observing low-energy events in the center of the Milky Way.
Champaign-Urbana Aerospace and NanoAvionics complete the team and contribute to mission development. DarkNESS is a 6U CubeSat that has successfully completed its Preliminary Design Review and is slated for launch in 2026 through Firefly’s 2024 DREAM Program. Mission lead: Phoenix Alpine
The Carruthers Observatory Student Solar Monitoring payload is a collaboration between LASSI, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Illinos, Ball State University, Boston University, and UC Berkley. COSSMo measures the variability of the solar irradiance in the far-ultraviolet at H Lyman-α an ionizing EUV/ soft x-ray wavelength. COSSMo is a small 1.2kg secondary payload on the much larger Carruthers Geocorona Observatory. Lead engineer: Cameron Jones
Laboratory Facilities and Equipment
This laboratory is the University of Illinois’ premier space design and testing workspace. It supports students, faculty and external partners in developing and testing small satellite technologies. Located in the new Talbot Laboratory annex, LASSI provides the infrastructure for end-to-end satellite development, from concept to flight readiness.
The lab is equipped with a comprehensive suite of environmental and functional testing hardware to support satellite development and validation. The Clean Room provides a controlled environment for satellite assembly, ensuring contamination-free integration.
The Thermal-Vacuum Chamber simulates space conditions, allowing for performance verification in extreme temperatures and vacuum. A Vacuum Oven is used for material outgassing and bakeout to prevent contamination in orbit. The Solar Simulator enables testing of solar panels and power systems under space-like illumination. The 3-Axis Helmholtz Cage generates controlled magnetic fields for sensor calibration and attitude control testing. The MOI/CG Table characterizes mass properties, including moment of inertia and center of gravity. A Fume Hood allows for the safe handling of volatile materials used in spacecraft development. Additionally, the lab houses a range of mechanical, electrical, and RF diagnostic equipment for comprehensive system testing and troubleshooting. Lab tech: Ben Ochs
Clean Room -Controlled Environment for Precision Assembly of Spaceflight Hardware
LASSI’s Class 10,000 (ISO-7) clean room provides a controlled environment for assembling and testing spaceflight hardware. Filtered air maintains positive pressure, preventing contamination from external particles. Workbenches are grounded to protect sensitive electronics from electrostatic discharge. This facility ensures that spacecraft components meet cleanliness and reliability standards before integration and launch.
Thermal Vacuum Chamber - Simulates space environmental conditions
LASSI’s thermal vacuum chamber replicates the extreme conditions of space for spacecraft testing. A roughing pump and turbo pump creates vacuum levels as low as 1×10⁻⁶ Torr, simulating pressures from Low Earth Orbit to Geostationary Orbit. A heater plate and LN₂ shroud control temperature, cycling test articles between -100°C and +100°C. This is LASSI’s most utilized piece of environmental testing equipment.
Vacuum Oven - Material outgassing and bakeout
The vacuum oven is connected to a roughing pump, and can achieve temperatures as hot as 250C and pressures as low as 400 mTorr. The vacuum oven is used primarily for spacecraft bake-out, but can also be used for adhesive preparation and vacuum curing.
Center of Gravity and Moment of Inertia Device - Mass properties measurement system
The lab recently acquired a mass properties measurement system capable of measuring the moment of inertia and center of gravity of an object. The Moment of Inertia Measurement Device determines the inertia about the orthogonal body axes of a satellite or piece of hardware where the effective balance changes caused by the object are measured.
LASSI’s Center of Gravity Calculation Device calculates the two-dimensional center of gravity of an object placed upon it and by taking three measurements--one for each orthogonal pair of directions so the full 3D location of the center of gravity can be determined. The table is capable of measuring systems with a moment of inertia capacity of 10 kgm^2 to an accuracy of +/- 0.5% + 0.002 kgm^2. The table is capable of measuring the center of gravity of objects between 1 and 25 kg to an accuracy of 0.15 mm.
Sun Simulator - Solar panel and power systems accurate testing under space-like illumination
LASSI’s solar simulator replicates the sunlight experienced by spacecraft in orbit, where solar energy is nearly twice as intense as on Earth's surface. It produces AM0 to AM1.5 solar spectra with 98 percent accuracy across all wavelengths, ensuring realistic testing conditions. The system allows for adjustable sun intensity from 0.8 to 1.2 AU, simulating seasonal variations in Earth-Sun distance. Primarily used for solar panel characterization, the Solar Simulator can also test individual solar cells and entire power systems. This capability is essential for verifying that spacecraft will generate sufficient power in orbit.
3-Axis Helmholtz Cage - Magnetic field simulation
LASSI’s 3-axis Helmholtz cage generates controlled magnetic fields to simulate conditions in Low Earth Orbit. It uses six copper coils--two per axis--with variable current to produce precise field conditions. This system is essential for magnetometer calibration, magnetic torque coil testing, and full attitude determination and control system validation. For increased fidelity, the Helmholtz cage can be used with an air bearing, enabling more realistic motion testing for magnetic torque coils and reaction wheels.
Rapid Prototyping: 3D Printers and soldering irons
LASSI maintains two Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ 3D printers for rapid component turnaround and early-stage hardware validation. These printers allow students to quickly fabricate first-revision parts to verify assembly fit and functionality. With post-processing techniques, select 3D-printed components can be integrated into flight-ready systems, as demonstrated in the SEAQUE payload.
LASSI’s lab is also equipped with soldering irons for assembling and repairing electronic components on printed circuit boards. These tools are essential for prototyping custom circuits, reworking connections, and integrating hardware for CubeSat avionics. Proper soldering techniques are critical for ensuring strong electrical connections and preventing failures in spaceflight hardware.
Ground Station: Satellite communications
LASSI operates a UHF ground station located in room 5020 of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Building. The station features a circularly polarized Yagi antenna mounted on the ECEB roof, controlled by a rotor system for precise tracking. It compensates for Doppler shift and signal amplification, enabling reliable satellite communication. LASSI uses SatTrack software to calculate satellite positions and generate tracking coordinates for accurate pointing. The ground station has been successfully used for missions like CAPSat and is available for future operations.
Fume Hood - Safe handling of volatile materials
LASSI’s fume hood is used for providing hazardous chemicals and materials in a controlled environment. It provides ventilation to protect users from harmful fumes, vapors, and particulates by directing airflow away from the workspace. This ensures safer chemical processing, particularly for epoxy and surface treatments. The fume hood helps maintain lab safety by preventing contamination and expose whole supporting various interdisciplinary projects.The Michael W. Miller Systems Engineering Test Benches: Comprehensive testing and troubleshooting
LASSI’s engineering test benches are equipped with a range of instruments to support hardware development, troubleshooting and validation.Past Programs
CAPSat - Advancing Quantum Annealing in Space
Cool Annealing Payload Satellite was a 3U CubeSat developed by LASSI in collaboration with Professor Paul Kwiat from The Grainger College of Engineering Physics Department. It was one of three Undergraduate Student Instrumentation Program satellites built at LASSI and served as a precursor to the SEAQUE mission. CAPSat carried a quantum annealing payload designed to test methods for healing radiation damage in crystalline single-photon detectors.
CAPSat launched to the International Space Station on August 29, 2021, and was deployed on October 12, 2021, at 06:00 CDT. It successfully demonstrated bidirectional communication, marking a milestone for Illinois' CubeSat program. However, approximately two months after deployment, communication ceased, likely due to radiation damage to the Command and Data Handling computer. CAPSat re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in October 2022, unable to complete its mission. Lead Engineers: Rick Eason and Eric Alpine
CubeSail - Solar sail deployment experiment
CubeSail was a 2 × 1.5U CubeSat designed to demonstrate the deployment and control of a 250-meter (20 m²) solar sail blade between two satellite halves. It served as a low-cost risk reduction precursor for larger solar sail missions, with objectives including successful sail deployment, attitude control, and controlled deorbit.
Unfortunately, CubeSail’s mission ended before the solar sail’s deployment. Post-launch signals were detected on December 18, 2018, but the signal-to-noise ratio was too low to demodulate the call sign. No further communication was received. After two years of recovery efforts, the mission was deemed irreversibly failed, likely due to radio system failure in orbit. CubeSail re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in December 2023. Lead engineer: Dawn Hawkins
Lower Atmosphere/Ionosphere Coupling Experiment (LAICE/LAICE-F)
The Lower Atmosphere/Ionosphere Coupling Experiment was a 6U CubeSat designed to study gravity waves in the atmosphere generated by weather systems. A collaboration between LASSI, The Grainger College of Engineering Physics Department, and Virginia Tech, the mission aimed to map active gravity wave regions in the mid- to low-latitude ionosphere and analyze their connection to terrestrial weather patterns.
LAICE was scheduled for launch in 2016, but its Orbital Debris Analysis Report identified a risk that some components could survive re-entry, leading to a launch halt. The project was shelved without a redesign.
In 2021, LAICE was re-evaluated for flight after NASA adopted the mission’s risk, but testing revealed critical hardware issues that would have caused a mission failure. This led to the development of LAICE-F, a redesigned follow-on mission addressing the identified issues. A Preliminary Design Review was completed in June 2022, but no further funding has been secured to procure hardware or continue mission development. Lead engineer: Alex Ghosh Follow-On Lead Engineers: Isabel Anderson and Michael Harrigan
Student Aerothermal Spectrometer Satellite of Illinois and Indiana (SASSI2)
Student Aerothermal Spectrometer Satellite of Illinois and Indiana is a 3U CubeSat scientific investigation mission by LASSI and Purdue, which utilized optical instrumentation in conjunction with temperature and pressure measurements to improve models of thermochemical non-equilibrium and electronic excitation occurring in high enthalpy flows. This mission was designed to characterize the flow and radiation generated by the diffuse bow shock formed during high-speed flight through the upper atmosphere. Optical spectrographic measurements of the radiation will provide benchmark data for flow, radiation, and materials modeling, improving aerothermal reentry models. Improved modeling will enable reduction of current thermal protection system design margins, ultimately resulting in lower-mass, higher-reliability thermal protection systems. The satellites payload consists of an optical spectrometer Payload from Illinois and the Purdue Sensor Payload. It consists of following instruments: Static and dynamic pressure measured by Patterson probe with a Pirani gauge, an armored thermocouple, a silicon bandgap sensor, and an Ocean Optics HR4000 using fiber cables. Lead engineer: Nick Zuiker
Space Interface Convective Effects (SpaceICE)
The SpaceICE mission aims to investigate the influence of gravity during directional solidification for the purpose of improving terrestrially-based materials fabricated using the freeze-casting technique. The Northwestern University-provided scientific payload consists of two aqueous particle suspension samples and one aqueous solution sample which will be repeatedly solidified (and melted) over the course of the mission. Scientific instrumentation includes cameras for imaging the solidification process and thermocouples for taking in-situ temperature measurements during solidification.
Small spacecraft (especially CubeSats) are faced with significant thermal challenges as they get bigger. Historically, spacecraft less than 20 kg used passive cooling, however this is no longer keeping up as smaller, higher powered technology can fit in less volume and consume less mass. Multiple currently planned missions for small satellites to the moon are reporting to face overheat conditions and need to power cycling their commu- nication systems, computers, and thrusters. The Spacecraft Active Cooling Thermal Sys- tem is an attempt to address this need; by circulating a fluid through a microvascular radiator panel, the system can supply on-demand cooling. As such, the spacecraft can dumb tens of Watts of heat when needed, but can stop dumping heat when running cold, and therefore avoid freezing by retaining internal heat. Lead Engineer: RJ Kunde
ION: Illinois Observing Nanosatellite
The first of ION's missions involves measuring oxygen airflow emissions from the Earth’s mesosphere. This helps scientists understand how energy transfers across large regions contributing to our knowledge of atmospheric dynamics. Second, ION tests a new MicroVacuum Arc Thruster--µVAT--with high dynamic range advancing a key enabling technology for small satellites. This serves as a stepping-stone toward a versatile low mass satellite propulsion system capable of lateral movement and finely controlling attitude. Such a capability might someday allow greater interaction with other spacecraft. Third, ION tests a new SID processor board designed specifically for small satellites in Low Earth Orbits. By utilizing a commercial off-the-shelf processor that is radiation hardened through system design techniques, it allows small satellites to take advantage of the latest in small, low power, high performance processor technology with increased reliability. Fourth, ION tests small CMOS camera for Earth imaging on this and future spacecraft. Finally, ION performs ground-based attitude stabilization demonstrating an important capability for the future growth of CubeSats. ION’s design includes solar cell power point tracking, dual redundant batteries, a custom communications protocol, a custom file system, automatic telemetry publication to the Web, and future support for distributed ground stations.
The satellite launched on July 26th, 2006 on the Dnepr launch vehicle, it was lost before the satellite was deployed when the launch vehicle exploded. Lead Engineer: Purvesh Thakker
Past Missions
| Characteristic: |
CubeSail |
LAICE |
CapSat |
SpaceICE |
SASSI^2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| CubeSat Class | 2 X 1.5 U | 6U | 3U | 3U | 3U |
| Science Mission Objection | Ultra-sail 260 m-long, 20m2 solar reflecting film ribbon deployment experiment | Atmospheric gravity wave studies | Active cooling for CubeSats, quantum annealing, and fine pointing control via solar panel deformation | Freeze-casting experiments to measure solidification velocity, dendrite and wall width, and particle concentration | Spectrometer studies of chemical reactions and chemical species present during re-entry |
| Mass | 3.5 kg | 6.5 kg | 2.8 kg | 3.4 kg | 3.3 kg |
| Orbit Average Power | 13.2 W | 24 W | 17.3 W | 15.6 W | 15.6 W |
| Collaborators | JPL CU Aerospace |
VA Polytechnic | JPL ARC NSF |
Northwestern | Purdue |
| Sponsor | NASA ELaNa | NSF | NASA USIP | NASA ELaNA | NASA USIP |
| Launch Date | 4Q2018 | TBD | 4Q2019 | 2Q2020 | 2Q2019 |
Contacts
Victoria Coverstone
Emeritus Professor
vcc@illinois.edu
Matthew Hausman
Assistant Professor of Practice
haus@illinois.edu