University Research Payloads


The objective of the ACCESS for Education Program is to educate and inspire the future aerospace workforce, and to foster commercial space activities through a national hands–on space experiment flight program. This webpage provides an overview of the ACCESS Program for Research payloads. Research payload allotments are intended for advanced space research and development payloads, which will typically involve university payload teams and potentially experienced high school teams.


All of the details and requirements for Research payloads participating in the ACCESS Program are provided in the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide. The ACCESS Payload User’s Guide is "required reading" for Research payload organizations participating in the ACCESS Program. Below is a summary of the key aspects of the ACCESS Program for Research payloads, as compiled from the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide.


ACCESS Phase 1 and Phase 2 Plans

The first phase of the ACCESS Program (i.e. Phase 1), which began in 2007, consists of suborbital space flights. The second phase of the program (i.e. Phase 2) will involve orbital space flights in conjunction with Microgravity Enterprises, Inc. (MEI) commercial orbital return missions. Each phase is described in greater detail below:

  • Phase 1: The first phase of the ACCESS Program involves suborbital flights for research and educational payloads. The baseline for all of the Microgravity Enterprises, Inc. Phase 1 commercial launches is the UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL launch vehicle. Because the SpaceLoft XL is a new launch vehicle, the vehicle environments provided in the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide are best estimates. As such, early Phase 1 ACCESS payloads are encouraged to fly sensor packages to quantify the actual flight environments in support of future ACCESS payloads, as well as MEI commercial payloads.
  • Phase 2: In Phase 2, Microgravity Enterprises, Inc. will be conducting orbital return flights for commercial payloads. As is the case for all MEI flights, a portion of the payload mass on Phase 2 flights will be dedicated, free of charge, to education based research payloads. Phase 2 activities are expected to begin in approximately 2012. Organizations that are interested in Phase 2 opportunities should monitor the MEI website, as well as this website, for additional information and updates. At this time, it is expected that the CubeSat Program and University Nanosat Program designs and requirements will form the basis of the Phase 2 flight payload requirements.


MEI/ACCESS Technology Areas of Interest

One of the goals of the ACCESS for Education Program is to advance the commercialization of space. To help achieve this goal, preference will be given in the ACCESS Program to Research payloads that are based on space commercialization research and development. Below is a listing of space commercialization technology areas of interest for Microgravity Enterprises, Inc. and the ACCESS Program:


  • Pharmaceutical Products (quality, yield and cost improvements)
  • Nanomaterial Bonding and Formulations
  • Crystal Growth
  • Plant Yield and Variability (with a focus on food products)
  • Biotechnology Development and Testing
  • Advanced Materials Development
  • Other Space Commercialization Research and Development Payloads

Check out the Research Payload Reference Material webpage for additional information related to space commercialization research and development and the technology list above.


The above technology list should not be considered an exhaustive list of potential payload topics. Payload organizations are encouraged to propose additional innovative commercial space research and development payloads. The ACCESS Program recognizes the tremendous talent and creative spirit in the nation's universities and looks forward to the unique space commercialization research and development ideas generated by Research payload organizations.


In addition to the technology and research areas listed above, early Phase 1 ACCESS payloads are encouraged to fly sensor packages to quantify the actual flight environments in support of future ACCESS payloads, as well as MEI commercial payloads. Sensor packages should measure the relevant launch vehicle environments, including:

  • Temperature
  • Pressure
  • Noise (i.e. sound level)
  • Inertial Loading (Quasi–static, Shock and Random Vibration)


Understanding the Program Schedule, Requirements and Entry

A top level ACCESS Program milestone schedule is given in the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide. It is important that Research payload organizations review and understand this schedule, as well as the other requirements spelled out in the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide, before making a commitment to participate in the ACCESS Program. A few key items from the milestone schedule include:

  • Submitting the ACCESS Payload Entry Form represents a commitment by your organization to participate in the ACCESS Program – please do not submit this form until you are confident of your ability to commit to the ACCESS Program.
  • As your team develops your payload, it is important to document your work (include photographs). This documentation will help when your team prepares the Flight Ready Data Submittal (FRDS).
  • Research payloads have two allotments available on the SpaceLoft XL rocket: Payload Section 3 (PL–3) and Payload Transportation System™ 4 (PTS–4). The PL–3 volume is larger, but doesn’t have access to the exterior of the vehicle during flight. The PTS–4 volume is smaller, but has access to the space environment through a small access door on the side of the PTS–4 container. Additional details on these two payload allotments can be found in the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide.
  • Submitting the Flight Ready Data Submittal (FRDS) represents a commitment by your team that your payload is ready to fly in as little as 60 days. If your payload isn’t ready – don’t submit the FRDS.
  • When your FRDS is accepted by the ACCESS Program Office you will be placed on the appropriate Research Payload Manifest (i.e. PL–3 Manifest or PTS–4 Manifest). The manifests work on a "first in – first out" basis – your place on the manifest will be above other payloads that submit their FRDS after yours, and below those that have previously submitted their FRDS. However, please note that per the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide, the ACCESS Program reserves the right to move Research payloads that demonstrate sound commercial potential up on the manifest listing.
  • We cannot guarantee a launch date – when you contact the ACCESS Program Office we will have an estimate of the general time frame for the next scheduled space flight, but remember this is always subject to change.

If you have read through the ACCESS Payload User’s Guide, brainstormed possible Research payload ideas, and thought about how the ACCESS Program will fit into your curriculum and schedule – and you have decided to participate in the ACCESS Program – now is the time to complete and submit the ACCESS Payload Entry Form. The ACCESS Payload Entry Form is a Microsoft Word document which, once complete, should be submitted via e–mail to the ACCESS Program Office. Once the ACCESS Program Office has reviewed your entry form, you will be contacted via e–mail that your team has been accepted into the ACCESS Program. Your team/payload will also be placed on the Research Payload Participant List.