Here’s a collection of questions we have received from potential customers. If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for – check out the NanoRacks Forum.

Q–What is NanoRacks?

A–NanoRacks LLC has permanently installed on the U.S. National Laboratory aboard the International Space Station two research platforms. Each of the platforms holds up to 16 NanoRacks payloads in the CubeSat form factor. We call the payloads NanoLabs, others call them CubeLabs(TM). Each payload is 4 inches by 4 inches by 4 inches.

Q–What is the advantage of using the NanoRacks Platform?

A–Use of a standard form factor lowers the cost and speeds up the development of the research project. There is no reason to have unique research hardware, what should be unique is the research itself. What’s more, the design of our Platforms allows for an easy “plug and play” interface, in which every project on the Platform plugs into the space station power and communications system.

Q–What is a typical mission?

A–A payload is flown and installed on the space station for up to 30 days. Power and daily data downloads are through the existing station communication system. It is the ultimate plug and play.

Q–Why is there a need for a platform like this?

A–The NanoRacks Platform standardizes what has been until now custom designed hardware: the research platform and payload hardware. By providing a set standard the barrier to entry for space station research is lowered. In addition, recent advances in miniaturization means that real science can take place in far smaller containers–hence the value of the NanoLab.

Q–How often can you fly to the space station?

A–We are able to book on any cargo ship to the space station. That means Japanese, American, Russian or French. You don’t have to worry about the details of the uphill ride. We take care of that.

Q–How long does it take to manifest and fly the payload?

A–We have had customers from high schools to researchers fly within a year.

Q–What is your price?

A–Our business model is like that of a no-frills airline. We have two basic U.S. prices, one for educational clients and one for commercial. We charge by the 1U–a 4 inch by 4 inch by 4 inch educational payload (1U) can be as low as $25,000. A 2U is twice that. A 2U by 1U is three times that. Commercial payloads start at $50,000 per 1U. We charge more for non-US payloads–we can discuss this with you if that is your situation.

Q–What is included in the basic price?

A–The basic price includes:

• Paperwork required for space transportation
• Handling of the safety review
• The space transportation to the space station
• Insertion of the payload into the NanoRacks Platform
• Power
• Date return

In short, the basics for the experiment.

Q–What prices are not included in the basic price?

A. The basic price does not include:

• More than two hours of consulting on payload development per 1U. We will help you, but after a certain point, we have to charge for consulting on payload development.
• There is a charge for return of physical data, if at all possible.
• Missions longer than 30 days
• Certain demands on our Mission Control
• Insurance
• And any custom requests for the payload.

Q–Is there any peer group review of the proposed payloads?

A–No! At NanoRacks we believe strongly that one path for space research should be any project that a customer believes in strongly enough to pay the costs (and it must of course pass the NASA safety review). We believe that breakthroughs in research, any research, sometimes involves hunches, accidents, trial and error, and that the peer review is of course an accepted system for selection, but so too the commercial path.

Q–What sort of research can take place?

A–All sorts of testing of materials and hardware in the space environment. Environmental and radiation testing, pharmaceutical and medical research. A project can be more than 1U or one CubeSat in size. It can be 4U or 8U or even 4U long with 2U perpendicular, to allow for example for a video camera to observe what is happening in the 4U section. A lot can be done in a small space. For more information, see our web site which has a report entitled “How to Build a Great NanoRacks Payload.” (see next question for url)

Q–What materials are accepted and what other sorts of advice can you give us?

A–For starters, take a look the Resources section where we have several documents that should give you some good pointers:

Q–Do I have to be present to meet with NASA officials?

A–No. Our team handles the interface with NASA from start to finish. You work with us.

Q–Do we have to use your Platforms for payloads and do we have to use the CubeSat form factor? Are there other choices?

A–A CubeSat form factor payload can be passive, meaning it does not require power. But for return of data, it may have to be plugged into our Platform. And we do offer here research opportunities not using the CubeSat form factor. We are flying on STS-134 for example, a 2U hardware that allows researchers to take individual “wells” for materials research at a lower cost. This is a program we expect to continue in the post-shuttle era and we can discuss this with you.

Q–What sort of outside support exists for NanoRacks payloads?

A–We are excited that a vendor community is now emerging. Some examples: Entropy Engineering has been awarded a 2010 SBIR by NASA to develop a standardized bus (circuit board) at low cost, which will make building NanoRacks payloads far easier. Our friends at Valley Christian are preparing a curriculum for student payloads. Our educational partner NCESSE has a national STEM program underway for high school students. And our partners are setting up a STEMLab program. Our hope is that, like the software and computer communities, people will come forward with imaginative ideas for use of the NanoRacks Platforms and help make space research as low-cost and hassle-free as possible.

Q–What innovations are coming from NanoRacks?

A–We are now working on more sophisticated (powerful) research Platforms, better delivery of the data, dedicated on-orbit research hardware for use by our customers (such as a microscope). We can discuss this in detail with you and check out the other sections of our site.

And above all, we are open to ideas to figure out together out to utilize the unique environment of space for all sorts of reasons.

For more information, check out the NanoRacks Forum or contact our team.