The United States Air Force will launch 29 satellites into orbit at once on Tuesday, Nov. 19, setting a record for most satellites sent into space at once, helping out a group of high schoolers in the process.

At NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 19, the Air Force will use a single Minotaur I rocket to launch the satellites, according to CNN. The main payload for the rocket will be the Air Force's Space Test Program Satellite-3, but 28 very small satellites, called Cubesats, will also be part of the launch. The Cubesats are also known as nanosatellites, and are much smaller than normal satellites that NASA and telecommunications companies launch into orbit around the Earth. These 28 objects are small cubes that are about four inches on each size and weight about three pounds each.

While it is unclear what some of the Cubesats purpose will be, one in particular is a very special project for some high school students. The TJ³Sat was made by Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virg., and is the first satellite made by high school students to be sent into space. The satellite will allow the students, as well as amateur radio users, the ability to send and collect data from the satellite. The Orbital Sciences Corp who developed the Minotaur rocket claims that the TJ³Sat will last for around seven years.

In addition to this satellite made by high school students, the Space Test Program Satellite-3 made by the Air Force will serve an important function as well. During the 13 month mission, the satellite will execute a variety of experiments while circling the planet.

NASA has claimed that the payload satellites on the rocket will be in orbit less than 15 minutes after the initial launch of the rocket, so it will not be long until the satellites are operational. The Minotaur rocket is also a critical part of the mission. NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration are using this launch as a test to see if the rocket can be employed for commercial use.

It will be interesting to see how the many different satellites fare during this record setting run. This launch could increase the popularity of smaller and more personal satellites, which could lead to more space debris interfering with existing satellites and causing problems on Earth.