SPARCS

Last updated
SPARCS
Mission type Space telescope (Astrophysics)
Operator NASA
COSPAR ID 2026-004V OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 67382 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Start of mission
Launch date11 January 2026, 13:44:50 UTC
Rocket Falcon 9 (booster 1097)
Launch site Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4
Contractor SpaceX
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Dawn/dusk sun-synchronous orbit
Altitude500 to 600 km

SPARCS (Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat) is a small space telescope in the CubeSat 6U format (30x20x10 cm at launch) whose objective is to monitor the flares and sunspot activity of low-mass stars of M and K spectral type. [1] The mission selected by NASA is developed and managed by Arizona State University with the participation of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) which provides the telescope and its detectors. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Objectives

The objective of the SPARCS mission is to study the ultraviolet emissions of around ten red dwarfs in order to model its impact. [5] SPARCS is with ASTERIA one of the first space astronomy missions using the extremely miniaturized CubeSat format. This new category of satellite opens up prospects in the field of long-term observations of astronomical phenomena thanks to their reduced cost. [6] [7]

Timeline

SPARCS launched on 11 January 2026 on a Falcon 9 rideshare mission "Twilight" together with NASA's Pandora and BlackCAT telescopes. [8] [9] [10]

References

  1. ↑ "SPARCS". sparcs.asu.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  2. ↑ "ASU astronomers to build space telescope to explore nearby stars". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  3. ↑ Ardila, David R. (13 March 2023). "SPARCS: The Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat" (PDF). JPL. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "Home page | SPARCS". sparcs.asu.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  5. ↑ University, Arizona State. "Astronomers to build space telescope to explore nearby stars". phys.org. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  6. ↑ "Onboard Dynamic Image Exposure Control for the Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS)". www.spaceref.com. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-18.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ SPARCS: The Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat
  8. ↑ "NASA's Pandora Satellite, CubeSats to Explore Exoplanets, Beyond". IPAC. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  9. ↑ "TSIS-2 & Others" . Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  10. ↑ Davenport, Justin (2026-01-11). "SpaceX's Twilight rideshare mission launches from Vandenberg". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 2026-01-11.


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