San Diego Space Institute

Design. Build. Test. Launch.

Stage 1 is live. We are raising $40,000 to carry P3 PRELUDE from the California Space Grant award to a completed sensor design review. Join the crew at any level, from Cadet at $25 to Flight Director at $1,000+. Your support funds the engineering team, prototype hardware, and design work that take this radiation sensor from concept to documented flight evidence.

Cadet
$25
Engineer
$50
Pilot
$100
Astronaut
$500
Flight Director
$1,000+
Donate Now

Current Mission

Support What's Launching Next

✓
Mission Requirements
Approved
✓
Concept Design
Complete
✦
Active
Build and Prove the Sensor
$40,000
Stage 2
Lock the Final Design
$44,000
Stage 3
Build for Space
$133,000
Stage 4
Launch Ready
$68,000

Space radiation is one of the least monitored threats in low Earth orbit. It degrades satellites, disrupts GPS, threatens astronauts, and costs the defense and communications industries billions. Stage 1 of P3 PRELUDE is your chance to fund the first real proof: taking our radiation sensor from a design on paper to working hardware with test data behind it.

⚙

What your donation builds

Stage 1 produces a working radiation detector prototype complete with detector components, circuit boards, and a lab test setup. The result is real hardware you can point to, with data that proves it works.

📈

Where the $40,000 goes

$10,000 goes to the engineering team and outside specialists. $5,000 covers prototype parts and lab equipment. $3,100 funds the technical documentation and design review preparation. $15,000 supports SDSU students working on the program. $6,835 is held in reserve to cover cost surprises and program administration.

✓

What Stage 1 achieves

A sensor that demonstrably works, a written record of design decisions, and a complete review package that outside reviewers can evaluate. Every donor receives progress reports covering what was spent, what was built, and what needs to happen before Stage 2 can open.

Stage 1 Active

Activate P3 PRELUDE

Every donation moves the program closer to its $40,000 goal — carrying P3 PRELUDE from the California Space Grant award to a completed sensor design review.

Raised $0
Goal $40,000

How Stage 1 funds are spent

  • Engineering team and specialists: $10,000
  • Detector prototype parts and circuit boards: $4,000
  • Lab equipment and test supplies: $1,000
  • Design documentation and review prep: $3,100
  • Program reserve and administration: $6,835
  • SDSU student support: $15,000
Donate Now

Full mission funding plan

Stage 1
$40,000
›
Stage 2
$44,000
›
Stage 3
$133,000
›
Stage 4
$68,000

What We Do

From Design
to Launch

University students at SDSU and SJSU do the engineering work. Through Sentinel-Bio+, they follow NASA-style design reviews, build and test real flight hardware, and develop the documented systems engineering experience that aerospace employers value. Your support funds both the mission and the engineers who will build the next generation of space infrastructure.

Our flagship program, Sentinel-Bio+, is a NASA California Space Grant-funded CubeSat mission currently in active development with students at San Diego State University and San José State University.

Learn More
SDSU students, Sentinel-Bio+ program

SDSU students, Sentinel-Bio+ program

Partners

Who We Work With

🎓

San Diego State University

Payload Development
🎓

San José State University

Spacecraft Bus
🚀

NASA California Space Grant

2025 Workforce Development Award
🏛️

Fleet Science Center

Community Partner