The Start of Something Great! How NASA Ames Launched the NASA Biological and Scientific CubeSat Revolution

This chapter provides a chronological history of the NASA Ames CubeSat and nanosatellite project and mission evolution, starting with a discussion of the background summary of biological research and technology development, and early biological free-flyer projects. The central focus of the chapter is the development and implementation of GeneSat-1, and subsequent 3-unit (U) and 6U nanosatellite projects and missions. Other Ames nanosatellite and small satellite activities are also described, and the chapter concludes with a discussion and summary of the significance and benefits of that initial GeneSat-1 and subsequent missions, along with projections for the future.