San Diego Space Institute

Design. Build. Test. Launch.

Phase 1A is live. We're raising $6,500 to build and test the radiation sensor at the heart of Sentinel-Bio+. Your donation funds engineering units, detector electronics, and lab testing that take this sensor from concept to demonstrated hardware.

Donate Now

Current Mission

Support What's Launching Next

✓
NASA Grant
Received
✓
PRD
Approved
✓
CRD
Complete
✦
Active
Fund the Radiation Sensor
$6,500 goal
Phase 1B
Fund the Magnetometer Suite
$20,500
Phase 2
Fund the Full FlatSat Testbed
$70,000

Space radiation is one of the least monitored threats in low Earth orbit. It degrades satellites, disrupts GPS, threatens astronauts, and costs the defense and communications industries billions. SDSI is building Sentinel-Bio+, a constellation of University-built CubeSats that continuously measures radiation and atmospheric drag. Satellite operators, insurers, and government agencies need this persistent data to manage risk.

⚙

Phase 1A starts with the sensor

Phase 1A funds the engineering units, electronics, and lab testing that take our radiation sensor from concept to demonstrated hardware.

↗

Each phase unlocks the next

Phase 1A ($6,500) leads to the magnetometer suite in Phase 1B ($20,500), then to a full FlatSat operations testbed in Phase 2 ($70,000). A clear ladder from lab hardware to flight-ready systems.

🏫

Students build real flight hardware

Student engineers at SDSU and SJSU work through NASA-style design reviews, building and testing real hardware and gaining the documented systems engineering experience aerospace employers value.

Phase 1A — Active

Fund the Radiation Sensor

Fund the primary science sensor for Sentinel-Bio+

Raised $0
Goal $6,500

Your gift funds

  • Radiation detector engineering units
  • Detector & preamplifier electronics
  • Printed circuit board fabrication
  • Laboratory testing & integration
Donate Now

Technology maturation ladder

Phase 1A
$6,500
›
Phase 1B
$20,500
›
Phase 2
$70,000

What We Do

From Design
to Launch

University students at SDSU and SJSU do the engineering work. Through Sentinel-Bio+, they follow NASA-style design reviews, build and test real flight hardware, and develop the documented systems engineering experience that aerospace employers value. Your support funds both the mission and the engineers who will build the next generation of space infrastructure.

Our flagship program, Sentinel-Bio+, is a NASA California Space Grant-funded CubeSat mission currently in active development with students at San Diego State University and San José State University.

Learn More
SDSU students, Sentinel-Bio+ program

SDSU students, Sentinel-Bio+ program

Partners

Who We Work With

🎓

San Diego State University

Payload Development
🎓

San José State University

Spacecraft Bus
🚀

NASA California Space Grant

2025 Workforce Development Award
🏛️

Fleet Science Center

Community Partner