Big results can come from small satellites, and Technology Educational Satellite 8 or TES-8 is the latest small satellite in the TechEdSat series from NASA Ames Research Center. TechEdSat is a collaborative program, in which advanced university students have a chance to work directly with researchers on NASA Space Projects. Thanks to the assistance of students from several universities around the country every year, TechEdSat has helped NASA develop Nano-satellite technologies and evaluate new ideas for future spacecraft. TES-8 is the eighth satellite of the continuing TechEdSat series. On December 01, 2018 TES-8 followed a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS) from John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The overarching goal of the TES-8 is to develop the requisite technologies for landing and on-demand return capabilities of small payloads. With the size of 3.5U (40 x 10 x 10 cm) and 3.51 kg, TES-8 carried an updated Exo-Brake and Modulation control systems for even more accurate de-orbit. In addition, the wireless sensor onboard will be the first self-powered test. We will able to inspect possible sensor networks for larger scale systems that enable future small satellite missions to reach the surface of Mars and other planetary bodies in our solar system
