NASA CubeSat satellite. Photo: NASA

[Via Satellite 02-10-2014] NASA has selected 16 CubeSats from nine states to fly as auxiliary payloads planned to launch in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The CubeSats come from universities across the country, a primary school, non-profit organizations and NASA field centers.

CubeSats are research spacecraft called nanosatellites that measure about 4 inches on each side and weigh less than 3 pounds.

The selections are from the fifth round of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative. Once launched, the satellites will conduct technology demonstration, educational research or science missions. The selected spacecraft are eligible for launch after final negotiations, depending on the availability of a flight opportunity.

So far, 99 CubeSats from 28 states have been selected through the CubeSat Initiative, and 27 have been launched as part of the agency’s Launch Services Program’s Educational Launch of Nanosatellite Program.