Three NASA-supported small spacecraft launched on Thursday to test new propulsion technologies and study galactic phenomena. The mission, part of SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare, includes:
-
ASCENT Propulsion Dual Mode CubeSat: This will demonstrate both chemical and electrospray propulsion systems using a common non-toxic propellant. The goal is to showcase how small spacecraft can leverage different propulsion methods.
-
SPRITE CubeSat: Developed by the University of Colorado Boulder, SPRITE aims to investigate how gas, dust, and high-energy radiation interact in galaxies. This mission will allow NASA to observe ultraviolet light that is unobtainable from the ground, thus providing insights into early universe conditions.
-
SSPICY Mission: Operated by Starfish Space, this mission will demonstrate technologies for satellite inspection and servicing, focusing on inoperable satellites in low Earth orbit. The Otter spacecraft will gather data on their condition and characteristics.
NASA’s Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems office oversees these projects, which benefit from commercial ridesharing to economically test new capabilities in orbit.
