Few students have the opportunity to design, test, and build a satellite and see it successfully launched into space. A group of Virginia Tech engineering students are one step closer as their satellite, the "ThickSat," has been delivered for space launch qualification testing before being integrated onto the rocket for launch.

What began as a conceptual senior capstone design project for a group of aerospace engineering seniors two years ago has since been expanded and developed into a complex piece of hardware bound for low-Earth orbit. Once cleared for flight, the completed satellite will fulfill its mission when it launches into space aboard the Cygnus NG-15 spacecraft, scheduled for launch in February 2021.  More...