About Us

The Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL) was established in May 2007, within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) and the College of Engineering (CoE) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. HSFL is also embedded as a laboratory of the Hawaiʻi Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP). As a multidisciplinary research and education center, HSFL brings together individuals from diverse areas to work on the exploration and understanding of the space environment. HSFL enables the University of Hawaiʻi to design, build, launch, and operate SmallSats that can be configured for a variety of science and educational tasks. We have Small Satellite designs, fabrication, integration, test, and launch capabilities. 

Support HSFL

Every semester HSFL receives various students to work on space missions and technology. By supporting HSFL you will be giving directly to these students so they can receive financial support such as scholarships and paid internships. Please consider donating to HSFL to grow the next generation of Aerospace workforce in Hawaiʻi and to the nation. Thank you!

OUR MISSION

The Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory aims to create a sustainable aerospace economy in Hawaiʻi.

 

We strive in these three areas:

  1. High-altitude, long-duration UAS research, and operations

  2. Small launch from Hawaiʻi focused on glider- launches to support Artemis Prime (small missions to the moon)

  3. Planetary surface analog technology and engineering development (using sections of the Big Island for rover development, basalt construction, etc.)

As a research facility, HSFL aims to: 

  • Promote innovative engineering and science research for terrestrial and planetary space missions

  • Develop, launch, and operate small spacecraft from the Hawaiian Islands to accelerate the validation of new space technologies

  • Provide workforce training in all aspects of unmanned space missions

  • Build synergistic collaborations among educational, governmental, and corporate instructions interested in space exploration

OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATIONS

  • Partner with HSFL to advance small spacecraft design.

  • Join HSFL on technology validation missions.

  • Call on a diverse group of instrument-developing faculty from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's, Hawaiʻi Institute of Geophysics and Planetology and the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology.

  • Use the HSFL clean rooms for systems integration, thermal-vacuum testing and vibration/shock testing.

  • Partner with HSFL in designing software and hardware tools to support spacecraft mission operations.