Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research (CCAR)

CANVAS CubeSat launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:34:22 +0000

CANVAS CubeSat launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base Jeff Zehnder Tue, 04/07/2026 - 14:34

Spacebound success for the CANVAS CubeSat.

The small satellite, which was designed, built, and tested by Associate Professor Bob Marshall's laboratory, launched April 7 aboard a Minotaur IV rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

CANVAS stands for Climatology of Anthropogenic and Natural VLF wave Activity in Space.

It will map the transmission into space of Very Low Frequency energy generated by lightning strikes and ground-based radio transmitters, which have a significant impact on the near-Earth radiation environment.

The instruments aboard the satellite will map these waves to determine their magnetic field intensity, electric field intensity, power level, and direction of propagation through a region of the ionosphere.

CANVAS is the third small satellite from Marshall's team to launch this year. AEPEX and COSMO were both carried to orbit aboard a SpaceX rocket late last month.

Find out more about all three satellites...

Off

Traditional

White

Smead Aerospace ranked #5 among public universities by U.S. News

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:00:22 +0000

Smead Aerospace ranked #5 among public universities by U.S. News Jeff Zehnder Tue, 04/07/2026 - 09:00

The �Ͼ�Ʒ�� is again ranked as one of the top 10 public engineering graduate programs in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report Best Graduate Schools list for 2026-27.

In the specialty rankings, nearly all of CU Engineering graduate degree programs were ranked in the top 20 amongst their public peers – with two in the top 10.

Aerospace engineering sciences: No. 5
Environmental engineering: No. 7
Chemical engineering: No. 11
Mechanical engineering: No. 14
Computer engineering: No. 14
Civil engineering: No. 15
Computer science: No. 15 (Best Computer Science Schools)
Electrical engineering: No. 17
Biomedical engineering: No. 19
Materials science and engineering: No. 20
Biological engineering: No. 26

“These U.S. News & World Report rankings represent the strongest performance in the history of our graduate programs and reflect the extraordinary dedication of our faculty, staff and students,” said Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. “Having every department with at least one graduate program ranked in the top 20 among public universities speaks to the depth and consistency of excellence across the college. This recognition affirms our commitment to impactful research, outstanding graduate education and preparing engineers and applied scientists to lead and serve society.”

When compared to its public university peers, �Ͼ�Ʒ�� engineering graduate program landed at No. 10. The college was ranked No. 18 overall, tied with Columbia University and the University of Maryland-College Park, when compared to both public and private universities.

To calculate its rankings, U.S. News and World Report looks at a range of data about graduate programs, including research activity, peer and recruiter assessments, and student selectivity. Read the full methodology.

Off

Traditional

White

AEPEX, COSMO CubeSats successfully launch

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:34:34 +0000

AEPEX, COSMO CubeSats successfully launch Jeff Zehnder Mon, 03/30/2026 - 11:34

Jeff Zehnder

COSMO (upper right) being deployed from the Transporter 16 rocket.

Watch the launch video on the SpaceX website.

Liftoff for two �Ͼ�Ʒ�� CubeSats!

The AEPEX and COSMO CubeSats, both projects of Professor Robert Marshall's lab, reached orbit today aboard the SpaceX Transporter 16 rocket, which launched at 5:02 a.m. MST from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Designed, built, and tested on campus, the satellites will serve different missions:

AEPEX (Atmospheric Effects of Precipitation through Energetic X-rays) – Will investigate highly energetic electrons that fall into Earth atmosphere from the Van Allen radiation belts by measuring X-rays that are produced in the atmosphere. These electrons impact atmospheric ozone balance and satellite communications.
COSMO (COmpact Spaceborne Magnetic Observatory) – Will conduct high accuracy measurements of Earth magnetic field, providing essential information for navigation.

AEPEX and COSMO are two of three recent cubesats from Marshall's lab. The third, named CANVAS, will launch sometime in April.

Find out more about all three cubesats.

Liftoff for two �Ͼ�Ʒ�� CubeSats! The AEPEX and COSMO CubeSats, both projects of Professor Robert Marshall's lab, reached...

Off

Traditional

White

Aerospace professor one of four new American Association for the Advancement of Science fellows

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:36:30 +0000

Aerospace professor one of four new American Association for the Advancement of Science fellows Jeff Zehnder Thu, 03/26/2026 - 15:36

Two professors from the College of Arts and Sciences—Rebecca Safran and Tin Tin Su—and two professors from the College of Engineering and Applied Science—Aaron Clauset and R. Steven Nerem—have been elected 2025 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

They are among nearly 500 scientists, engineers and innovators who have been recognized this year for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements by one of the world largest general scientific societies and publisher of the Science family of journals. They also join a cohort of more than 80 �Ͼ�Ʒ�� faculty members who previously received the honor.

Safran is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology who has led groundbreaking research on the evolution of new species; Su is a professor and the chair of molecular, cellular and developmental biology, whose research is leading to novel cancer therapies. Clauset is a professor of computer science and an internationally recognized expert on network science, data science and complex systems; Nerem is a professor of aerospace engineering and an expert in satellite remote sensing and geodesy.

A tradition dating back to 1874, election as an AAAS fellow is a lifetime honor, and all fellows are expected to meet the commonly held standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity. Distinguished past honorees include Alan Alda, Steven Chu, W.E.B DuBois, Thomas Edison, Grace Hopper, Ayanna Howard, Irwin Jacobs, Mae Jemison, Maria Mitchell and Ellen Ochoa.

“This year AAAS fellows have demonstrated research excellence, made notable contributions to advance science, and delivered important services to their communities,” said Sudip Parikh, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science journals. “These fellows and their accomplishments validate the importance of investing in science and technology for the benefit of all.”

Read more about �Ͼ�Ʒ��'s latest AAAS lifetime fellows.

R. Steven Nerem

Nerem is an aerospace engineering expert with over 30 years of experience. He was recruited to �Ͼ�Ʒ�� in 2000 as a full professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences and currently serves as director of the Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research.

Nerem uses satellite-based techniques to monitor changes in Earth shape and gravity field due to shifts in sea level, distribution of water and ice planetwide, and vertical crustal motion. The AAAS election makes Nerem the second member of his family to be part of the prestigious body.

“This is a great honor. I really enjoy doing research—it like a hobby,” Nerem said. “The most important thing to me about my selection is that my father, who passed away in 2020, was also an AAAS fellow, so it nice to follow in his footsteps.”

Nerem has been part of multiple NASA missions, including the ongoing GRACE-FO and Sentinel 6B satellites. He leads an active research group, with more than 480 publications, including 12 in 2025 alone. He is a fellow of the American Geophysical Union and was the inaugural recipient of the Earth Science and Applications Award from the American Astronautical Society.

Off

Traditional

White

�Ͼ�Ʒ��-built small satellites ready for launch

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 22:45:46 +0000

�Ͼ�Ʒ��-built small satellites ready for launch Jeff Zehnder Tue, 03/17/2026 - 16:45

Header Image: Robert Marshall and PhD student Wyatt Spies checking out AEPEX while wearing protective gear to prevent damage to the satellite.
Above: Robert Marshall, third from left, with members of his lab and the LASP SmallSat Team.

�Ͼ�Ʒ�� faculty and students have been part of than 24 small satellite projects. Find out more about all of our missions.

April 7 Update: All three cubesats are now in orbit and successfully transmitting data back to Earth.

Three �Ͼ�Ʒ�� small satellites are ready to rocket into space.

Designed, built, and tested on campus, all three projects are led by Robert Marshall, an associate professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences.

“We’ve designed and built each of these missions completely from scratch. I’m very proud of the entire team. I don’t know how to describe it, going from the idea of a mission, to a proposal, then construction, resolving problems along the way, and now getting to launch,” Marshall said.

The satellites, AEPEX, CANVAS, and COSMO, will serve separate missions, but each are CubeSats, so-named for their small size. CANVAS is roughly the size and shape of a loaf of bread. The two other satellites are the size of a large shoebox.

Satellite building used to exclusively be the domain of major aerospace companies, often costing hundreds of millions of dollars each and weighing in at thousands of pounds. Advancing technology has made CubeSats’ much smaller profiles practical.

They have more limited missions, but also radically reduce costs; COSMO is the most expensive of the three, at $6.4 million. Additionally, as university projects, they offer the chance for students to be heavily involved.

“Students bring a lot of excitement,” Marshall said. “We’ve had over 60 students involved in developing these missions, including undergrads, masters, and PhDs.”

Jacob Mesley, a 2nd year aerospace master student, has been part of that COSMO team.

“I’m just so grateful for this opportunity, sometimes I can still hardly believe it. If you told me three years ago that I would end up working on hardware that going to be orbiting Earth so soon, I would have likely not believed you,” Mesley said.

All of the CubeSats will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. AEPEX and COSMO are slated for the same SpaceX rocket, likely to take off in late March. CANVAS will follow a few weeks later, aboard a Northrop Grumman rocket.

Once in space, the next phase for the satellites begins.

“The real mission research doesn’t happen until after the launch. We develop the satellites, but the ultimate goal is the science you can do with them in orbit,” Marshall said.

Each satellite has a very different science mission:

AEPEX (Atmospheric Effects of Precipitation through Energetic X-rays) – Will investigate highly energetic electrons that fall into Earth atmosphere from the Van Allen radiation belts by measuring X-rays that are produced in the atmosphere. These electrons impact atmospheric ozone balance and satellite communications.
CANVAS (Climatology of Anthropogenic and Natural VLF wave Activity in Space) – Will map the transmission into space of Very Low Frequency energy generated by lightning strikes and ground-based radio transmitters, which have a significant impact on the near-Earth radiation environment.
COSMO (COmpact Spaceborne Magnetic Observatory) – Will conduct high accuracy measurements of Earth magnetic field, providing essential information for navigation.

“It very exciting to get to this point. The science missions last from six months to three years, and we hope to extend some of them if we’re able to get funding. More data is always better to improve our understanding,” Marshall said.

Additional key leadership on all three satellites came from Conor Cunningham, Siwani Regmi, and Sebastian Wankmueller, all professional research associates in Marshall lab, as well as the SmallSat team at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), who have led aspects of the spacecraft design and will operate each of the spacecraft once in orbit.

AEPEX

CANVAS

COSMO

Three �Ͼ�Ʒ�� small satellites are ready to rocket into space. Designed, built, and tested on campus, all three projects are...

Off

Traditional

White

�Ͼ�Ʒ�� team earns second in Capture the Satellite Challenge

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:22:30 +0000

�Ͼ�Ʒ�� team earns second in Capture the Satellite Challenge Jeff Zehnder Tue, 02/17/2026 - 09:22

Jeff Zehnder

Afrah Ghedira, Lorenzzo Mantovani and Mark Stephenson

A team of three aerospace PhD students were awarded second place in an autonomous satellite systems competition.

Afrah Ghedira, Lorenzzo Mantovani and Mark Stephenson competed in the 2026 Capture the Satellite Challenge organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

The goal? To design an automated approach for a simulated maneuvering satellite during non-cooperative space operations. It is a well-known game theory application for orbital dynamics called a “lady, bandit, guard problem.”

“Your satellite is the bandit. You’re trying to get as close as possible to the lady satellite, but the guard satellite is trying to keep you away,” Stephenson said.

Critically, the satellites had to act completely on their own. Once programmed and unleashed, no human intervention was allowed.

All three students are studying under Hanspeter Schaub, distinguished professor and chair of the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences. Schaub lab focuses on complex orbital mechanics and created Basilisk, an open-source program for space guidance, estimation and control solutions.

Reinforcement Learning

Using the software, the team developed algorithms, based on the rules of the game, to model both their satellite and potential guard behaviors.

“We had to train our agent against a wide range of possible guards,” Mantovani said. “It the hardest part of any game. You need to have good behavior for yourself and also the other side. It’d be easy to play chess with someone if you knew what their move would be.”

Through the reinforcement learning aspect, they ran thousands of simulations for the agent to improve performance.

Unexpected Results

During those repeat simulations, their agent developed an unexpected approach. The premise of the game was to rendezvous for an extended period with the lady satellite, as though for maintenance, but the formal rules were more general, requiring only a momentary approach.

“Our agent learned kind of a funny strategy,” Ghedira said. “If you’re near the lady for too long, it gives lots of opportunity for the guard to come close. So, our agent would fake out the guard, fly far away and then apply full thrust to zoom close by the lady really fast and keep flying away.”

Through the reinforcement learning, their model realized something the team members had not.

“Initially we thought something was wrong, but based on the scoring, getting close to the guard was more penalized than getting close to the lady was rewarded, so it was a pretty reasonable strategy,” Ghedira said.

Fifty-two teams registered for the AIAA competition, which used the Kerbal Space Program, a computer game highly regarded for accuracy in simulating challenging orbital dynamics situations.

“This is a realistic environment. With any sort of autonomy and reinforcement learning project, the big question is can it work in an environment you don’t control. In our lab, we had a lot of the tooling to approach this problem in a really interesting way,” Mantovani said.

Future View

The use of autonomy in orbiting satellites is still in its infancy, and Stephenson said the competition was a good opportunity to experiment in a new domain.

“I’ve been looking at industry research proposals that are adjacent to this kind of problem and am glad to get experience on this type of thing. The industry is just opening its eyes to autonomy and what we can do if we enable these technologies for space like is being done on Earth in robotics and self-driving cars,” Stephenson said.

The competition was held during the 2026 AIAA SciTech Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Jan. 12-16.

A team of three aerospace PhD students were awarded second place in an autonomous satellite systems competition. Competing in the 2026 Capture the Satellite Challenge organized by...

Off

Traditional

White

Morton one of seven new CU Distinguished Professors

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:51:19 +0000

Morton one of seven new CU Distinguished Professors Jeff Zehnder Fri, 11/07/2025 - 10:51

Seven educators at the University of Colorado are being added to the roster of Distinguished Professors, CU highest honor for faculty across the four-campus system.

CU Distinguished Professors are tenured faculty members who demonstrate exemplary performance in research or creative work; a record of excellence in promoting learning and student attainment of knowledge and skills; and outstanding service to the profession, the university and its affiliates.

Jade Morton, Ph.D., Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences and the Helen and Hubert Croft Professor, Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, �Ͼ�Ʒ��

Jade Morton, Ph.D.

Morton is an internationally renowned expert in satellite navigation, remote sensing and space weather. Her pioneering research at the intersection of aerospace engineering and atmospheric science has transformed how GPS and the broader family of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are used – not only for precise positioning and timing, but also as powerful tools for probing the Earth ionosphere, atmosphere and surface. Her innovations in software-defined GNSS receivers, machine learning for ground-based and spaceborne sensing, and global monitoring networks have advanced the reliability and scientific utility of satellite-based positioning systems worldwide.

At �Ͼ�Ʒ��, Morton directs the Satellite Navigation and Sensing Laboratory, where she leads her students and researchers to integrate GNSS technologies into multidisciplinary Earth and space science research. She previously served as professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Colorado State University and Miami University. Her prolific record includes hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, lead editor of the Wiley-IEEE two-volume “Position, Navigation, and Timing Technologies in the 21st Century,” and leadership of major NASA, NOAA, NSF, DoD and industry-sponsored projects.

Morton leadership extends across academia, government and industry. She is a member of the U.S. Space-Based Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board, where she chairs the Education and Science Innovation Subcommittee, and she serves on advisory boards for multiple scientific organizations. A Fellow of the IEEE, the Institute of Navigation (ION) and UK Royal Institute of Navigation, she also is a past president of the ION.

Her many honors include the ION Johannes Kepler Award, the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society Richard B. Kershner Award and the American Geophysical Union SPARC Award. A dedicated educator and mentor, Morton has guided more than 50 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom have gone on to leadership roles in academia, industry and government laboratories.

Through her visionary research, leadership and mentorship, Morton has advanced the science and engineering of satellite navigation and remote sensing and fortified the global infrastructure that depends upon it.

Off

Traditional

White

Naval grant to improve ionospheric research over the open ocean

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:27:14 +0000

Naval grant to improve ionospheric research over the open ocean Jeff Zehnder Mon, 10/27/2025 - 16:27

Jeff Zehnder

Brian Breitsch is improving our understanding of the upper atmosphere in some of the most isolated places on Earth.

A research associate in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, Breitsch is leading an $840,000 U.S. Office of Naval Research project to study the ionosphere, which spans from roughly 50-1000 km (31-621 mi) in altitude above the Earth.

It is an area where solar flares and other space weather can wreak havoc with high frequency communications and radar signals.

“This region of the atmosphere is ionized due to the sun radiation. There are all these free electrons and ions floating around, otherwise known as plasma, and the structure of this plasma impacts radio signals that travel through it. We want to be able to better see what going on in this region,” Breitsch said.

Day-to-day ionosphere forecasting works fairly well over populated continents, thanks to a broad network of ground sensors. However, there is much less data covering areas over the ocean. Although few people live on the water, such regions are crucial to Naval communications and operations. It is this region, specifically at equatorial latitudes, where Breitsch work will focus.

“We don’t have many sensors at the surface here, since they’d have to be deployed on boats or buoys. Instead, we want to use satellite-based reflectometry, which roughly mimics the type of measurement geometry we’d get from ground receivers,” he said.

Breitsch is an alumnus of �Ͼ�Ʒ��, earning his aerospace engineering sciences PhD in Professor Jade Morton lab in 2021. A leader in the remote sensing field, Morton is also involved in Breitsch grant.

The research process involves GPS satellites and other similar global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). The signals from these satellites continuously blanket the planet. When beamed down, some of that signal reflects off the surface and bounces back into space, where it can be picked up by other satellites in low Earth orbit.

When those signals travel through the ionosphere, they undergo subtle changes that can be used to measure the plasma structure.

“We’re at the forefront of processing those signals and using them to estimate the ionosphere. Reflectometry gives us geometries of measurement over the ocean that we wouldn’t otherwise have,” Breitsch said.

That data is already being collected and is available to researchers, but it is extremely difficult to analyze.

“We only get coherent reflections when the sea is calm. One of the main things we’re trying to do in this project is work with noncoherent reflections from rough seas. To do that, we need to analyze data over longer timespans. It much more challenging,” he said.

Over the next three years, Breitsch will work with graduate students to develop signal processing techniques to extract useful information from the data. They will also validate and integrate this data with other measurements from other sources, including radio occultation receivers, ground-based radars, and Android phone GPS receivers.

“This is a tough estimation problem, but the ionosphere and the science of it all is really cool. These techniques we’re working on might be the future of GNSS reflectometry for ionosphere observation,” Breitsch said.

In addition to Breitsch, researchers on the grant include PhD student Jiawei Xu and two co-investigators, Morton and Smead Aerospace Distinguished Professor Penina Axelrad.

Off

Traditional

White

Schaub inducted into National Academy of Engineering

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:04:13 +0000

Schaub inducted into National Academy of Engineering Jeff Zehnder Tue, 10/14/2025 - 09:04

Jeff Zehnder

Hanspeter Schaub and his husband, Steve White,
at the NAE gala.

Hanspeter Schaub has been officially inducted into the National Academy of Engineering.

A distinguished professor and chair of the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the �Ͼ�Ʒ��, Schaub was welcomed as a member of the NAE Class of 2025 during a ceremony on Oct. 5 in Washington, D.C.

The distinction recognizes outstanding contributions to a field and is one of the highest an engineer can receive in their career.

“NAE has a long legacy and history and to be included in that group is an incredible honor,” Schaub said. “It very exciting.”

Schaub is a leader in the field of astrodynamics and spacecraft control whose research has advanced theoretical and practical understanding of spacecraft operations.

His contributions to satellite formation flying, proximity operations, autonomous spacecraft scheduling and charged astrodynamics have transformed the modeling and management of spacecraft motion, particularly through his work in electrostatic charging. These advancements are reshaping mission proximity and rendezvous concepts, enabling new capabilities in spacecraft control without physical contact.

Schaub research has been instrumental in high-profile space projects, including the development of key components for the UAE Hope mission to Mars and the creation of the widely used Basilisk software for spacecraft mission simulation.

“We do a lot of fundamental and applied research in my lab. Industry is using the tools we’ve created and hired students I’ve mentored. We have stuff flying all over the solar system. That pretty cool,” Schaub said.

Schaub leadership is reflected in his recognition as a Fellow of both the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the American Astronautical Society (AAS), alongside prestigious awards like the AAS Dirk Brouwer Award and the AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award. In 2023, he won the University of Colorado Hazel Barnes Prize, which recognizes outstanding teachers who also have distinguished records in research and scholarship.

As an educator, he has mentored dozens of PhD students, fostering the next generation of aerospace leaders. The textbook he co-authored is a cornerstone in universities worldwide, and his groundbreaking aerospace MOOC has brought advanced learning to tens of thousands of students.

Schaub is one of nine current �Ͼ�Ʒ�� aerospace professors or department affiliates who are members of NAE.

Hanspeter Schaub has been officially inducted into the National Academy of Engineering. A distinguished professor at the �Ͼ�Ʒ��, Schaub was welcomed as a...

Off

Traditional

White

Welcoming Associate Professor Alia Khan to Smead Aerospace

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 22:17:11 +0000

Welcoming Associate Professor Alia Khan to Smead Aerospace Jeff Zehnder Fri, 09/05/2025 - 16:17

Fall 2025 is bringing a new faculty member to the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences.

Alia Khan is joining the �Ͼ�Ʒ�� as an associate professor in Smead Aerospace and the Environmental Engineering Program.

Khan comes from Western Washington University, where she was an associate professor in their environmental sciences department, but she is no stranger to �Ͼ�Ʒ��. She completed graduate school here, earning her master in environmental studies in 2012 and PhD in civil and environmental engineering in 2016. During that time, her research was conducted at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. She then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Snow and Ice Data Center on campus.

A North Carolina native, Khan has had a life-long affinity for snow, which is central to her research. She combines environmental chemistry and optical remote sensing from uncrewed aerial vehicles and orbiting satellites to document snow and ice melt in mountainous and polar regions. Khan also has strong expertise in autonomous system development for environmental monitoring, aquatic biogeochemistry, aerosols, the cryosphere, and glacial and snow hydrology.

She has led research grants funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation, which recognized her with a $1.3 million CAREER Award in 2021 to investigate snow darkening in Antarctica. She is beginning a new NASA-funded award to study Greenland dark ice zones from space. She is a recipient of the US Fulbright Scholar Award and an Antarctic Service Medal.

Off

Traditional

White