Kentucky’s first orbital satellite - developed in part by students at Western Kentucky University - has been selected by NASA to take flight in mid-2009.

During the past three years, students at WKU have teamed with others at different Kentucky universities to design and build KySat-1 - a tiny cube-shaped satellite with the computer capability of taking commands and providing information to those on the ground.

Karen Hackney, director of Kentucky Space Grant Consortium and professor at Western, said about 12 students have taken part in the process by developing tests and revamping the satellite’s design accordingly.

Several students conducted a test this summer by releasing a balloon from the airport to test how well some of the data cards will hold up near cosmic rays.

Hackney said the students have also used a device that shakes the satellite to simulate the stresses it will undergo during take off using a machine in Lexington and have done numerous tests on the device’s exposure to maximum heat and cold temperatures.

The official launch date is expected to be announced next month, but Hackney said Kentucky Space, a consortium of universities, public organizations and companies, has been told to prepare for a June launch.

While the device is only four inches square, Hackney said she was amazed at what all the students were able to pack into it.

The satellite has HAM radio capabilities along with a camera and cell phone technology that will allow students in K-12 across Kentucky to issue voice commands and download data.

“Students can take pictures, tell the temperature and the health of the components of the device. We feel this will empower young students to see what they can do if they take math and science classes and take them seriously,” she said.

Kentucky has invested approximately $850,000 into the satellite that is expected to be in space for 18 to 24 months.

Hackney said while similar projects have been conducted in other states, Kentucky’s is unique because the satellite was developed in conjunction with multiple universities and it is NASA’s first launch of a university-built satellite.

Kris Kimel, president of Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, said once the satellite is in space, its operations will be centralized from Morehead State University but students across the commonwealth will have access through the Internet at www.kentuckyspace.com.

Hackney said Western students involved in the project have been computer science majors who have communicated with other universities using Kentucky Virtual University.

“We saw others doing similar things and we see how great it is for students involved to be able to do something and show companies, NASA and the government,” she said. “It’s not just book learning, it’s really doing something and what a fantastic thing to be able to put on a resum/.”