For almost five years, students from University of North Dakota were working on a small-sized satellite. Finally, their hard work has shown results as NASA has approved the satellite. NASA has termed the project to be one of its kinds in the nation for the last year.

The satellite known as CubeSat will go on a supply ship destined for the International Space Station in next spring. The two-pound device is North Dakota's first spacecraft to orbit earth.

Principal investigator of proposal's launch, Professor Ronald Marsh, chairman of the UND computer science department, said the project has set an example as to how careers can be made in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

"If it doesn't work we're going to look pretty silly. I think from a broader perspective, it shows the breadth of the discipline of computer science and the really neat things students can do with a STEM degree", stated Marsh.

Giving information on the project, Marsh said around 80 students have worked on the project and the same number has helped in a supporting role. Students from different departments were involved in the project.

Jeremy Straub, a UND computer science doctoral student and coordinator of project, said they do not only have to build the satellite, but also have to test it and ensure that it is up to the level of NASA's acceptance criteria. All the requirements for approval were considered.