NCUBE was the first fully Norwegian-built satellite. It was built by students from all over Norway. In 2006, a new program was launched, ANSAT, with the goal of launching 3-4 satellites into space by the end of year 2011.

The satellites are planned to follow the cubesat standard. The standard describes satellites put togeather of cubes weighing 1kg, and measuring 10x10x10 cm. The satellites can be single, double or triple cubes. The first satellite will be built by a team of students in Narvik, and is named HINCUBE. Satellite number two will be built at the University of Oslo, and is named CubeSTAR.

ANSAT

In 2006, the Norwegian Centre for Space-related Education (NAROM), the Norwegian Space Centre (NSC) and Andøya Rocket Range (ARR) decided to initiate a student satellite program as a succession from NCUBE-1 and NCUBE-2. The scope of the program is to build and launch 4 cubesats in the period 2007 – 2011. This ambitions 5-year program is started, with the first satellite, HINCUBE, under construction in Narvik.

The student satellite program has the intention to stimulate cooperation between educational institutions in Norway and with industry, and also to give the students experience in team work and hands-on training. The program also aims to increase the interest for science and technology in lower educational levels to secure future recruitment to higher education.

NCUBE

The NCUBE project was initiated in 2001, by NSC and ARR. More than 80 students from several Norwegian universities and colleges have participated in the project. NCUBE-2 was launched as a piggyback satellite to the larger student satellite SSETI Express, made by students from all over Europe and coordinated by the European Space Agency (ESA). NCUBE-1 was launched on a Russian DNEPR rocket, but unfortunately this rocket did not make it into space because of a technical error.

CubeSat

The CubeSat is a picosatellite with dimensions of 10x10x10 cm, weighing up to 1 kg. Because most projects using this standard are very limited on cost, it is typically used commercial off-the-shelf components. The standard was developed by Stanford University and California Polytechnic State University as a joint effort. The concept was introduced as an opportunity for universities throughout the world to participate in space activities and give students real space projects to work on.