Project Overview

Project Overview
IPSF is proud to be the official funding partner of the Irvine CubeSat STEM Program. The program provides hands-on STEM experience to foster interest in advanced technologies and meet the rising demand for a highly-qualified work force in growing STEM-related industries. Irvine CubeSat also has an eye on creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in STEM-related fields, including women and minorities.
The Irvine CubeSat STEM Program (ICSP) is a joint educational endeavor to teach, train and inspire the next generation of STEM professionals. It is comprised of students from six different high schools in the City of Irvine whose main objective is to assemble, test and launch a nano-satellite into low Earth orbit. By working on this project, students develop and practice STEM skills in technical documentation and communication, project management, hardware and software, mechanical and electrical subsystems, programming, radio and optical communications, and data analysis. Students are selected by a competitive application process including completing documentation and participating in an in-person interview. Students agree to a year-long commitment in order to complete the mission.
Student teams work after school to reach a series of milestones scheduled to keep them on track. An Industry Speaker Series provides students with expert insight into space, technology and STEM, enhancing their understanding of real world application of the skills they are learning. Other events include field trips for testing and a design review, both intended to deepen student understanding and learning through hands-on experience.
Program Sponsors
Student Impact

Student Impact
Irvine CubeSat represents an incredible opportunity for over 150 diverse students to come together and gain advanced hands-on STEM experience with an emphasis on space. Students not only assemble a CubeSat, but they also participate in a professional team environment that challenges them to receive and process technical training in their team’s area of emphasis, collaborate with manufacturers to acquire components, and even participate in professional panel reviews of their work from experts such as JPL personnel.
Once the CubeSat is successfully launched, schools will engage in a variety of orbital maneuvers and experiments, including operating the CubeSat to position the antennae, solar panels and camera for optimal operation. The CubeSat will also collect data that students can practice evaluating and share for further study.
Partner colleges and universities are supporting the program, because they view it as a training ground for the next generation of great minds in space science. Beyond high school, participants will be uniquely positioned to pursue post-secondary education in a variety of science and space-related disciplines.

Press & Updates
Irvine CubeSat STEM Program successfully launched first two high school student-built CubeSat in California and the West Coast. IPSF, December 8, 2018
NASA Selects Irvine03 CubeSat For Launch Mission IPSF, April 19, 2018
Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators – Orange County Business Journal, February 5, 2018
Winter 2017 CubeSat STEM Program Update
Irvine01 Team Update Summer 2017
Irvine students enter final phase of their mission to launch a satellite – LA Times- OC, August 10, 2017
Irvine Students to Launch Satellite They Built Into Space – NBC News, July 27, 2017
Irvine high school students ready their mini satellite for launch into orbit – OC Register, July 26, 2017
NASA Selects Irvine Cubesat Stem Program For Future Launch Mission – February 23, 2017
Irvine Students: To Infinity And Beyond – Irvine Inspired, November 27, 2016
Irvine high school students move closer to satellite launch – OC Register, September 29, 2016
Irvine high-school students hoping to launch satellite – ABC7, March 26, 2016
Irvine Students are on a mission to launch satellite – LA Times, March 26, 2016
Sky’s the limit for Irvine high schoolers as they seek to send a satellite into orbit – OC Register, March 19, 2016