About Us
Inspiring the Next Generation of Aerospace Innovators
At BLUECUBE Aerospace, we believe in the transformative power of hands-on, real-world STEM education. Through CubeSat missions, space settlement competitions, and advocacy in space policy, we empower students—from middle school to high school—to dream big, build boldly, and reach for the stars.
Intro to Aerospace
AIA students join trimester-based SPACE Clubs to prepare for the Wolfpack CubeSat Development Team, where they explore orbital mechanics and aerospace research. Working in teams, they compete in space settlement contests and collaborate with industry professionals. Since 2018, Wolfpack students have launched three spacecraft and presented their work at over 100 national and international conferences.
Competition Prep
Students have the opportunity to compete in prestigious events like the Palm Beach Regional Science and Engineering Fair and the NSS Space Settlement Contest. Over the past eight years, they’ve earned more than 150 awards, including multiple first-place finishes, state champions, and a world title out of 2,600+ entries. One team even represented the U.S. in Beijing as national champions.
The Aerospace Public Policy Institute
Bridging the Opportunity Gap Through Policy and Engagement
Experiencing the contrast between private and public education revealed how financial resources greatly influence student access to quality programs. Recognizing this inequity led to the creation of the Aerospace Public Policy Institute (APPI), which aims to bridge the gap by empowering students and educators—especially in underfunded communities—to engage with real-world STEM opportunities and space policy. APPI promotes education, advocacy, and student-driven change across disciplines, inspiring greater civic involvement and equity in learning.
What is BLUE-SKY Learning
Blue-Sky Learning is a mindset centered around pursuing bold, ambitious goals through perseverance, teamwork, and a growth mindset. It encourages students to take on challenges that seem impossible, embrace setbacks as learning opportunities, and remain flexible while staying focused on the ultimate goal. With Blue-Sky Learning, students often achieve far more than they ever imagined possible.
How to Get Started
1
Embrace a ridiculous, audacious BLUE-SKY goal
2
Identify a teammate or two that will embrace your vision
3
Identify incremental milestones… they either become wins or areas for improvement (tethered, HAB, ThinSat)
Kevin L. Simmons,
Principal Investigator
Kevin L. Simmons is a professional aerospace educator, specializing in the intersection of authentic aerospace and equity in education. He is the founder of BLUECUBE Aerospace, Inc., and the Wolfpack CubeSat Development Team (WCDT), as well as the co-creator of the Aerospace and Innovation Academy, Inc. (AIA) and the successful SmallSat Education Conference.
Simmons and his 11- to 18-year-old Wolfpack students have launched three spacecraft to date and became the first middle school-aged team selected by NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative in 2017, with another selection in 2019. As Principal Investigator, he has led the WeissSat-1 (2018), CapSat-1 (2022), and WolfSat-1 (2025) missions, with WolfSat-1 chosen for flight in 2025 through Firefly Aerospace's DREAM 2.0 program. Additionally, he serves as Co-Investigator for WCDT’s first hosted payload, FlipSat-1 (2024).
Trained as a biochemist, Simmons has experience across industry, military, and academia. He completed two years as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and spent four years as a senior policy analyst in the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Directorate. In the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), he holds roles as the Region II Deputy Director for Public Policy and serves on both the AIAA SmallSat and Education Technical Committees.
A past president of the Florida Association for the Gifted and a current Area Director for the Florida Association of Science Teachers, Simmons is also part of the inaugural Limitless Space Institute Educator Fellowship, a 2023 NASA HEAT Physics Ambassador, a Space Foundation Teacher Liaison, and an ISS Educator Ambassador. His national accolades include the Christa McAuliffe Space Educator Award, induction into the National Space Council Space Worker Hall of Fame, the AIAA Trailblazing STEM Educator Award, the AIAA Foundation Educator Achievement Award, The Engineers’ Council STEM Educator Award, National Coalition of Aviation and Space Education Crown Circle Recipient, and the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award.
Simmons holds degrees in Biochemistry and Chemistry from North Carolina State University and a Master’s degree in Space Studies - Aerospace Science from American Military University. A recipient of the Dwyer Award for Excellence in STEM Education, he is a professional educator with a gifted endorsement and is licensed to teach Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Earth/Space Science, and 6th-12th grade Mathematics.
