EagleCam A Groundbreaking CubeSat Camera System


About EagleCam

EagleCam is a 1.5U CubeSat camera system designed and built by Embry-Riddle students. In February 2024, EagleCam landed on the moon as part of Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission. With this mission, EagleCam accomplished a historic feat and became the first university student-built payload on the lunar surface.

Interdisciplinary in nature, EagleCam included contributions from the aerospace, electrical and mechanical engineering disciplines. The CubeSat was developed in the Space Technologies Laboratory, one of the cutting-edge engineering facilities available at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and was the culmination of more than two years of hard work and innovation.

Originally designed to take the world’s first third-person selfie of a spacecraft landing on the moon, EagleCam represents Embry-Riddle’s commitment to advancing space technology and humanity’s understanding of the universe. The project has enabled students to gain first-hand experience with space missions and has demonstrated their exceptional ability to adapt, iterate under pressure and persevere.

What does the future hold? The EagleCam team and the Space Technologies Laboratory are hard at work on projects like LLAMAS. Stay tuned for our next launch!



Help Us Reach for the Stars

When you donate to the Space Technologies Lab, you help us advance space exploration while providing students with life-changing hands-on experiences. Contact us to get involved or to ask questions at eaglecam@erau.edu.

Faculty Leadership and Student Participants

More than 20 students worked together with experienced faculty to help EagleCam become the first university student-built payload on the moon. Learn more about our talented student team or our faculty below.
Henderson Headshot

Troy Henderson, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering

Faculty Profile

Eduardo Rojas

Eduardo Rojas, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Faculty Profile

M. Ilhan Akbas

M. Ilhan Akbas, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Faculty Profile

Learning at Embry-Riddle

Students at Embry-Riddle immerse themselves in real-world research, pushing boundaries and reaching new frontiers in aviation, aerospace, engineering, business, security and intelligence.

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