ISSAC™ - International Space Station Agricultural Camera
The University of North Dakota has sent its first scientific instrument into space. The International Space Station Agricultural Camera (ISSAC) launched into orbit on November 14, 2008 for installation aboard the International Space Station 400 kilometers (about 250 miles) above earth. The multi-spectral, Earth-observing camera, which is now scheduled to begin operations in 2011, flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on its 15-day mission to the station.
May 5, 2010
UND dubs its research agricultural camera ISSAC

Team to upgrade International Space Station-mounted sensor.
Click for Press Release.
April 5, 2010
NASA Launches New Home for UND Agricultural Camera

On April 5, 2010, onboard shuttle STS-131 NASA launched into space the Window Observational Research Facility, or WORF. The WORF is a large equipment rack for the International Space Station that will provide power, cooling, and other services for scientific instruments to look at the Earth.

UND's Agricultural Camera is undergoing a sensor upgrade, which will be launched to the Space Station in April 2011. Once onboard, the sensor will be installed into and will operate from the WORF.
Click for More Information.
February 9, 2010
UND Agricultural Camera Name Update

UND Starting Process to Change Name of Its Agricultural Scientific Camera on International Space Station.
Click for Press Release.
ISSAC Menu
  • UPDATES
    Updates on ISSAC and ISS events, and links for more information from other sources.
  • FAQ
    Frequently asked questions related to ISSAC technical and usage information.
  • Overview
    Read about ISSAC's purpose, as well as targeted application areas.
  • Engineering
    Educational benefits, the multi-disciplinary team approach, and electronic, structural, imaging, and telemetry systems.
  • Operations
    Typical operations, needs-driven dynamics, and the NASA connection.
  • ISS
    Background on the International Space Station, and the internal Window Observational Research Facility.
  • Launch Info
    Launch prep details and scheduling delays.
  • Sign Up
    Sign up to be an ISSAC user, and get updates on system status.

History/Operation
Designed, created, integrated and operated by the students and faculty at the University of North Dakota, the ISSAC project has been in the making since 2001. When the multispectral camera is installed aboard the International Space Station, it will relay high resolution images of Earth in almost real-time for use in agricultural and geological applications at the request of farmers, ranchers, foresters, natural resource managers, and tribal officials in the Upper Midwest Region.

ISSAC SOC
The student-run Science Operations Center (SOC) at the University of North Dakota has been set up and will become operational in the coming months. From there, students will send commands to ISSAC aboard the International Space Station to take photos and then process and deliver the images taken from space.

ISSAC Integration
ISSAC system operators are in the process of working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on the integration of the Science Operations Center (SOC) with NASA command centers. The team has held a series of simulations with NASA officials in preparation for the March, 2009 start of operations.

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