History

In 2004 a group of young space engineers

Aerospace engineering

Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...

 and scientists from leading companies and universities in Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

, started studying nanosatellites constellations and applications.
INSA - the Israeli Nano Satellite Association was founded in 2006 by this group.

Mission

INSA's mission is to promote the usage of nanosatellites in Israel for various academic and commercial purposes. INSA is also dedicated to promoting space education, technology and science awareness throughout Israel by leading civil nanosatellites projects.

INASA aspires to be involved in every nanosatellite project in Israel.

INSA Projects

• Nanosatellites Accurate Positioning System (NAPS) is a constellation
  Satellite constellation
  A group of artificial satellites working in concert is known as a satellite constellation. Such a constellation can be considered to be a number of satellites with coordinated ground coverage, operating together under shared control, synchronised so that they overlap well in coverage and...
  
   of nanosatellites that are used to find accurate position, the concept was first presented in Tel Aviv University, evoked great responses and triggered the interest of the Israeli space industry in nanosatellites.
• Space Qualification and Heritage Nanosatellites (SQHN). Recently as a part of SQHN project, INSA has started building two nanosatellites (INSAT-1 and INSAT-2), weighing less than 10 kg each, carrying novel components developed by Israeli Hi-tech companies such as Rokar, Accubeat and Ramonchips.

INSA is planning to launch

Launch

Launch may refer to:In boating:*Launch , a large motor boat*Motor Launch , a small military vessel used by the Royal Navy*Ship naming and launching, when a ship or boat is dispatched from a slipway, prior to fitting out and commissioning...

 the satellites on a Dnepr rocket launcher from Baikonur

Baikonur

Baikonur , formerly known as Leninsk, is a city in Kyzylorda Province of Kazakhstan, rented and administered by the Russian Federation. It was constructed to service the Baikonur Cosmodrome and was officially renamed Baikonur by Russian president Boris Yeltsin on December 20, 1995.The shape of the...

 by the end of 2008.

International Activities

INSA is also an official sponsor of CUSAT

Cornell University Satellite

The Cornell University Satellite project is a multi-year effort to design, build, and launch an end-to-end autonomous on orbit inspection system...

, a Cornell university satellite project, along with NASA

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...

, AFRL, AGI

AGI

AGI may refer to:* Alliance Graphique Internationale* Adjusted Gross Income* Adventure Game Interpreter, used by Sierra On-Line in the 1980s.* Agenzia Giornalistica Italia, an Italian news agency....

, Boeing

Boeing

The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...

, LORAL, ORBITAL

Orbital

Orbital may refer to:In chemistry and physics:* Atomic orbital* Molecular orbitalIn astronomy and space flight:* Orbit* Orbital resonance* Orbital period* Orbital plane * Orbital elements* Orbital speed...

, AIAA and many others. The professional support of INSA experts was one of the reasons for the Cornell team selection out of 11 different projects to be fully funded (selection done by the AFRL). In the future, INSA will continue supporting CUSAT team and will provide ground receiving services with the collaboration of ASRI ground station.

INSA is also the Israeli representative of Pumpkin who is a manufacturer of CubeSat

CubeSat

A CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite for space research that usually has a volume of exactly one liter , has a mass of no more than 1.33 kilograms, and typically uses commercial off-the-shelf electronics components...

 kits.

Events

On May 15, 2007, INSA held the first Israeli symposium

Symposium

In ancient Greece, the symposium was a drinking party. Literary works that describe or take place at a symposium include two Socratic dialogues, Plato's Symposium and Xenophon's Symposium, as well as a number of Greek poems such as the elegies of Theognis of Megara...

 on nanosatellites, that was held in IAF

IAF

IAF may refer to the following air forces:* Indian Air Force* Indonesian Air Force* Iraqi Air Force* Israeli Air Force* Italian Air ForceIAF may also refer to:* International of Anarchist Federations* Indian Armed Forces...

 House in Herzliya

Herzliya

Herzliya is a city in the central coast of Israel, at the western part of the Tel Aviv District. It has a population of 87,000 residents. Named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, Herzliya covers an area of 26 km²...

.

On January 31, 2008, INSA held the Second Israeli symposium

Symposium

In ancient Greece, the symposium was a drinking party. Literary works that describe or take place at a symposium include two Socratic dialogues, Plato's Symposium and Xenophon's Symposium, as well as a number of Greek poems such as the elegies of Theognis of Megara...

 on nanosatellites, that was held as part of the Israeli 3rd International Space Convention. It took place in IAF

IAF

IAF may refer to the following air forces:* Indian Air Force* Indonesian Air Force* Iraqi Air Force* Israeli Air Force* Italian Air ForceIAF may also refer to:* International of Anarchist Federations* Indian Armed Forces...

 House in Herzliya

Herzliya

Herzliya is a city in the central coast of Israel, at the western part of the Tel Aviv District. It has a population of 87,000 residents. Named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, Herzliya covers an area of 26 km²...

.

External links

• INSA site: http://www.insasite.com
• The first Israeli symposium on Nano-Satellites papers - http://netquire.com/insa/Symposium2007/