Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


The following frequently asked questions were compiled to assist students, educators, and others interested in the ACCESS for Education Program. If you are unable to find the answer to your question here, please contact us using our Question/Comment Form.



Q: I want to become involved in the ACCESS Program - where do I start?

A: You are in the right place - the ACCESS for Education website is designed to provide you with all of the information that you need to become involved in the ACCESS Program. First, decide if you best fit in the K-12 Inspirational payload category or the University Research payload category. In general, the Inspirational payload allotment is intended for use by K-12 student teams, and potentially junior college and university teams that are new to space flight research. The Research payload allotments are designed for use by university payload teams and potentially experienced high school teams. After deciding where your team best fits, click on the appropriate link above to learn more about how to participate in the ACCESS Program. Next, read through the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide. It is written to provide both Inspirational and Research payload organizations, with all of the information that they need to participate in the ACCESS Program.


Q: I’ve browsed the ACCESS for Education website and read through the ACCESS for Education Program User’s Guide. What should I do if I still have questions?

A: Please e-mail your questions to the ACCESS Program Office at info@ACCESSforEducation.org. We will make every effort to reply to your question as soon as possible (generally within 2-3 business days).


Q: How can I become involved with the ACCESS Program as a volunteer or mentor?

A: The ACCESS Foundation welcomes the participation of individuals, companies or other interests who wish to become involved in the ACCESS Program. There is always more that can be done in this worthy cause! We have outlined several volunteer opportunities on the ACCESS for Education Foundation How Can I Help? page. If you see something that is a fit for your interests and/or skills--please send us an e-mail with your contact information, capabilities and interests. If you don’t see something that works for you there, but would still like to be involved, let us know - e-mail us with your contact information and a summary of your capabilities and interests, and we’ll look for a way for you to contribute.


Q: Can I become involved in building a payload under the ACCESS Program if I’m not affiliated with an educational institution?

A: Individuals, companies or other interests who wish to become formally involved (i.e. beyond the level of a volunteer or mentor) in the design and fabrication of a payload under the ACCESS Program should seek a partnership with a U.S. educational institution as defined in the ACCESS Program User’s Guide. Only U.S. educational institutions may submit payload entries into the ACCESS Program. However, partnerships between educational institutions and industry or other interests is allowed, and in fact encouraged, under the ACCESS Program.


Q: Why is participation in the ACCESS Program limited to U.S. educational institutions?

A: The ACCESS For Education Foundation, like all U.S. companies and individuals, is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). Under this U.S. law, export of certain launch vehicle and payload technologies and technical information to foreign countries is prohibited. For this reason, the ACCESS for Education Foundation has decided to limit participation in the ACCESS Program to U.S. educational institutions.


Q: Once my payload is manifested, how will I know when my flight will occur?

A: Payloads will be flown from the manifests on a first-in, first-out basis. To determine the current flight rate, contact the ACCESS Program Office.


Q: How many flights will MEI have?

A: Microgravity Enterprises, Inc. has committed to fly educational payloads on every one of their commercial launches. However, the flight rate is dependent on MEI’s commercial sales. To determine the current flight rate, contact the ACCESS Program Office.


Q: How much time will students have to prepare their payload?

A: Payload teams have as much time as they need to complete their payload. However, once a team submits their Flight Ready Data Submittal (FRDS), they are committing to flying their payload in as little as 60 days (note that the actual time to flight could be significantly longer).


Q: How much time will developing an Inspirational payload take my class?

A: The amount of time that it takes to develop an Inspirational payload will depend on the grade level of your class, as well as the complexity of the payload that you choose. In general, we expect the payload development time to range from 1–2 months for simple payloads (typically elementary school level) to a full school year for complex payload experiments (typically high school level).


Q: I’m a K-12 teacher, will someone be available to help my class and I through the payload design and build process?

A: Yes. The ACCESS Program Office is available on a limited basis to assist you and your class with payload development. Feel free to contact us with your questions. As the ACCESS Program matures, we will also be implementing website bulletin boards, lesson plans, Wiki’s, etc., to assist teachers in their payload development.


Q: Are there lesson plans to go with the development of an Inspirational payload?

A: Lesson plans to support the ACCESS for Education Program Inspirational payloads are currently under development by the ACCESS Program Office. Once these lesson plans are completed, they will be posted on the ACCESS Program website.


Q: Is there a K-12 teacher orientation program?

A: We don’t have formal orientation activities at this time. However, we will be adding orientation activities as the ACCESS Program matures.


Q: Is there a standard format for the flight ready data submittal (FRDS)?

A: No, not at this time. We simply ask that you follow the content guidance outlined in the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide. As the ACCESS Program matures, we will develop and provide a template for the FRDS.


Q: I’d like to utilize the PTS-4 Research payload opening to take video of the flight. Are there any restrictions associated with doing this?

A: For launches from Spaceport America, the rocket returns to Earth and lands in White Sands Missile Range. As such, there are restrictions on all video and pictures. For this reason, all experiment payloads with video and/or picture capability must coordinate with, and be approved by, the ACCESS Program Office.


Q: In the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide, it says that the payloads must survive 20 g’s of loading in each axis (x, y, and z). This makes sense for the launch vehicle axis (z axis), but why the other two (i.e. x and y)?

A: The loading in the axes perpendicular to the launch vehicle axis can be quite large due to flight events such as parachute deployment and re–entry into Earth’s atmosphere. In addition, MEI may utilize other launch vehicles which could require a different payload mounting orientation in the vehicle. Designing for 20 g’s in all axes provides for maximum flyablity of the ACCESS payloads.


Q: I’ve submitted my entry form and been accepted to the ACCESS Program, but I’m not at the point of submitting the flight ready data submittal (FRDS). Is there a way for me to get feedback on my payload design at this time?

A: Sure. The best way is to put together a preliminary FRDS on your payload and submit it to the ACCESS Program Office. All that you need to do is note on your FRDS that it is a preliminary submittal, and we’ll take a look at it and get back to you with feedback.


Q: Do you have any suggestions on shipping the experiment payload to the ACCESS Program?

A: Most experiment payloads should be able to be shipped via standard shipping services like Fed Ex or UPS. Some suggestions for shipping include: double box the payload; take great care in packaging your payload; include a moisture protection bag on the outside of your inner packaging; include specific documentation with your payload (i.e. handling/operating instructions; and include an electrostatic discharge (ESD) inner bag for payloads with electronics.


Q: I’d like to do an experiment that involves a pressurized system, as well as a ground communication system. Is there any special coordination required?

A: Per the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide, all pressurized systems, as well as communication systems, must be coordinated with the ACCESS Program Office prior to their use. In addition, payloads that contain electrical systems are encouraged to coordinate with the ACCESS Program Office on their use.


Q: Is there an allowance for additional payload mass/volume beyond what is listed in the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide?

A: Yes. The ACCESS Payload User’s Guide gives the nominal allowances for educational payloads on MEI commercial flights. However, larger mass and volume allotments do exist on MEI launches. Please contact the ACCESS Program Office if you would like to inquire about a larger allotment. Please note that the payload organization will need to justify the additional allotment requested.


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