Cornell University

Cornell University's Cislunar Explorers team develops a pair of streamlined, sustainable 6U CubeSats designed for a mission to orbit the Moon. These spacecraft serve as self-propelled engineering demonstrations, focusing on proving the technology readiness of water electrolysis propulsion and interplanetary optical navigation. The Cislunar Explorers are intended to fly as a secondary payload on NASA's EM-1 mission in 2019, participating in the Lunar Derby of the CubeQuest Challenge. The development process involves researchers, graduate students, and undergraduates at Cornell University. The team has won first place in the fourth Ground Tournament of the CubeQuest Challenge, earning a $20,000 prize and securing one of three CubeQuest selections for the EM-1 flight. Their work aims to expand the capabilities of the CubeSat platform by demonstrating new technologies in orbit. The spacecraft are designed to launch mated together as a 6U sized-box.