TechEdSat

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Technology Education Satellite (TechEdSat) is a successful nano-sat flight series conducted from the NASA Ames Research Center in collaboration with numerous universities (San Jose State University, University of Idaho, University of California, University of Minnesota, and Smith College). While one of the principal aims has been to introduce young professionals and university students to the practical realm of developing space flight hardware, considerable innovations have been introduced. In addition, this evolving flight platform has tested concepts for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) sample return, as well as planetary nano-sat class mission concepts.

Contents

TechEdSat-1

TechEdSat-1
TechEdSat.jpg
Computer-aided design drawing of TechEdSat-1
NamesTES-1
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA Ames Research Center  · San Jose State University  · University of Idaho  · JAXA  · ÅAC Microtec
COSPAR ID 2012-038D (1998-067CQ) [1]
SATCAT no. 38854
Mission duration213 days (achieved)
100 days (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Bus CubeSat
Launch mass1.2 kg (2.6 lb)
Dimensions11.35 cm x 10.0 cm x 10.0 cm (1U)
Power1.229 watts
Start of mission
Launch date21 July 2012, 02:06:18 UTC
Rocket H-IIB F3
Launch site Tanegashima Space Center,
Yoshinobu LC-Y2
Contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Deployed from ISS Kibō
Delivered by Kounotori 3
Deployment date4 October 2012,
15:44:15.297 UTC
End of mission
Decay date5 May 2013
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 402 km (250 mi)
Apogee altitude 422 km (262 mi)
Inclination 51.66°
Period 92.80 minutes
TechEdSat Engineering Development Unit TechEdSat Engineering Development Unit.jpg
TechEdSat Engineering Development Unit
TechEdSat Solar Panel TechEdSat Solar Panel.jpg
TechEdSat Solar Panel
CubeSats deployed to orbit from the International Space Station (ISS) on 4 October 2012 (from left: TechEdSat-1, F-1 and FITSAT-1). CubeSats launched by ISS Expedition 33.jpg
CubeSats deployed to orbit from the International Space Station (ISS) on 4 October 2012 (from left: TechEdSat-1, F-1 and FITSAT-1).

The first TechEdSat (later renamed "TechEdSat-1" or "TES-1") [2] [3] was a 1U-Cubesat designed to evaluate Space Plug-and-play Avionics (SPA) designed in Sweden by ÅAC Microtec. It was also originally intended to perform a communications experiment utilizing the Iridium and Orbcomm satellite phone network, [4] although this function was disabled before launch. [5] TechEdSat was deployed into orbit from the International Space Station (ISS) on 4 October 2012. It reentered to atmosphere on 5 May 2013. [6]

Hardware

Specifications

Launch

TechEdSat was launched from pad 2 of the Tanegashima Space Center, Yoshinobu Launch Complex (LC-Y2) on 21 July 2012, at 02:06 UTC, [8] aboard Kounotori 3 atop an H-IIB launch vehicle. Kounotori 3 carried the satellite, along with the RAIKO, WE WISH, Niwaka, and F-1 spacecraft, to the International Space Station (ISS), from where it was deployed via the JAXA J-SSOD deployer, from the Kibō module on 4 October 2012 at 15:44:15.297 UTC. [9]

Beacon Packet Format

TechEdSat-1 transmitted a heartbeat packet over amateur radio every 4 seconds. These packets are 122 ASCII character AX.25 packets. Amateur band radio frequency is 437.465 MHz. [10] Two consecutive 12 bit raw Analog-to-digital converter (ADC) data values are parsed into one 3 byte chunk in order to save data space.

TechEdSat-2

TechEdSat-2
NamesTES-2
PhoneSat v2a
PhoneSat 2.0 Beta
Alexander
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA Ames Research Center
COSPAR ID 2013-016C
SATCAT no. 39144
Mission duration7 days (planned)
6 days (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Manufacturer NASA Ames Research Center
Launch mass0.5 kg (1.1 lb)
Dimensions10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm (1U)
Start of mission
Launch date21 April 2013, 21:00:02.2 UTC [11]
Rocket Antares 110 A-ONE
Launch site Wallops Island MARS, LP-0A
Contractor Orbital Sciences
End of mission
Decay date27 April 2013
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit [12]
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 218 km (135 mi)
Apogee altitude 228 km (142 mi)
Inclination 51.64°
Period 88.95 minutes

An Iridium transceiver flew aboard the PhoneSat v2a CubeSat as the TechEdSat-2 mission, separate from the spacecraft originally planned as TechEdSat-2. [13]

Alexander, also known as PhoneSat 2.0 Beta or PhoneSat v2a is a technology demonstration satellite operated by NASA's Ames Research Center, which was launched on 21 April 2013. Part of the PhoneSat programme, it was one of the first three PhoneSat spacecraft, and the first Phonesat-2.0 satellite, to be launched. A PhoneSat-2.0 satellite, Alexander, was built to the single-unit (1U) CubeSat specification, and measures 10 cm (3.9 in) in each dimension. The satellite is based around an off-the-shelf Samsung Electronics Nexus S smartphone which serves in place of an onboard computer. The satellite is equipped with a two-way S-band transponder and solar cells for power generation. The spacecraft uses the phone's gyroscopes, along with a GPS receiver, to determine its position and orientation, and a system of reaction wheels and magnetorquer coils for attitude control. [14]

TechEdSat-3p

TechEdSat-3p
NamesTES-3
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA Ames Research Center  · San Jose State University  · University of Idaho  ·
COSPAR ID 1998-067DD (TECHEDS3P) [1]
SATCAT no. 39415
Mission duration47 days (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Dimensions30 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm (3U)
Start of mission
Launch date3 August 2013, 19:48:46 UTC
Rocket H-IIB F4
Launch site Tanegashima Space Center,
Yoshinobu LC-Y2
Contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Deployment date20 November 2013, 07:58 UTC
End of mission
Decay date16 January 2014
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 410 km
Apogee altitude 415 km
Inclination 51.65°
Period 92.81 minutes

TechEdSat-3p was the third spacecraft flown in the TechEdSat series. Its dimensions were approximately 30 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm, or three CubeSat units long, making it three times larger than TechEdSat-1. TechEdSat-3p was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on 3 August 2013 from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan on the Kounotori 4 (HTV-4) International Space Station cargo resupply mission and subsequently deployed into orbit by the JEM-Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD).

TechEdSat-3p was the first satellite of the TechEdSat series to include an exo-brake, a parachute-like drag device to demonstrate passive deorbit capability. [15] The deployment of an exo-brake increases the surface area of a satellite, increasing its coefficient of drag in the thin upper atmosphere and causing the satellite to deorbit faster than it otherwise would. This technology could be used to more quickly dispose of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that have completed their missions, decreasing the amount of potentially hazardous debris in space. The exo-brake is currently being developed for use as part of the Small Payload Quick Return (SPQR) concept, which would enable science materials to be returned to Earth from the International Space Station whenever is most convenient for scientists rather than just a few times per year aboard a returning cargo resupply vehicle.

According to smallsat logistics company ÅAC Microtech, a main power distribution board designed for TechEdSat-1 was reused on the TechEdSat-3p mission. [16]

Deployment of the TechEdSat-3p satellite from the ISS Deployment TechEdSat3p.jpg
Deployment of the TechEdSat-3p satellite from the ISS

TechEdSat-4

TechEdSat-4
NamesTES-4
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA Ames Research Center  · San Jose State University  · University of Idaho
COSPAR ID 1998-067FY
SATCAT no. 40455
Mission duration263 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Launch mass3 kg (6.6 lb)
Dimensions10 cm x 10 cm x 30 cm (3U)
Start of mission
Launch date13 July 2014, 16:52:14 UTC
Rocket Antares-120
Launch site Wallops Island MARS, LP-0A
Contractor Orbital Sciences Corporation
Deployment date4 March 2015
End of mission
Decay date3 April 2015
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 393 km (244 miles)
Apogee altitude 402 km (250 miles)
Inclination 51.64°
Period 92.50 minutes

TechEdSat-4 was a 3U CubeSat mission developed, integrated, and tested at NASA Ames Research Center in partnership with student interns from San Jose State University (SJSU) in California and the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. The objective of the TechEdSat-4 mission was to demonstrate new technologies including satellite-to-satellite communications and an upgraded Exo-Brake device to demonstrate a passive deorbiting. TechEdSat-4 was launched as a secondary cargo payload on the Cygnus CRS Orb-2 ISS resupply mission. The launch vehicle was the Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares-120, launching from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia on 13 July 2014. [17] TechEdSat-4 was deployed from the International Space Station via the Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer on 4 March 2015. [18] [19]

The satellite decayed from orbit on 3 April 2015. [20]

On 27 February 2015, a series of CubeSats, small experimental satellites, were deployed via a special device mounted on the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) (Kibo module) Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS). Deployed satellites included twenty Flock-1b satellites, TechEdSat-4, GEARRSAT, LambdaSat, and MicroMAS. ISS-43 Deploying of CubeSats.jpg
On 27 February 2015, a series of CubeSats, small experimental satellites, were deployed via a special device mounted on the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) (Kibō module) Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS). Deployed satellites included twenty Flock-1b satellites, TechEdSat-4, GEARRSAT, LambdaSat, and MicroMAS.

TechEdSat-5

TechEdSat-5
NamesTES-5
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA Ames Research Center  · San Jose State University  · University of Idaho
COSPAR ID 1998-067LB
SATCAT no. 42066
Mission duration144 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Launch mass4 kg (8.8 lb)
Dimensions10 cm x 10 cm x 35 cm (3.5U)
Start of mission
Launch date9 December 2016
Rocket H-IIB F6
Launch site Tanegashima Space Center,
Yoshinobu LC-Y2
Contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Deployment date6 March 2017, 18:20:00 UTC
End of mission
Decay date29 July 2017
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 397 km (247 miles)
Apogee altitude 408 km (254 miles)
Inclination 51.64°
Period 92.61 minutes

TechEdSat-5 was a 4 kg, 3.5U CubeSat that was launched on 9 December 2016 aboard the Kounotori 6 (HTV-6) cargo resupply spacecraft, and was deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) at 18:20 UTC on 6 March 2017. [21] It was the first satellite in the TechEdSat program to include a modulated Exo-Brake that was could adjust the amount of atmospheric drag on the spacecraft, enabling a targeted re-entry. [22] The TechEdSat-5 Exo-Brake was cross-shaped, made of mylar, and used a combination of mechanical struts and flexible cords. [23] Its surface area was approximately 0.35 square metres. [21] A "Cricket" Wireless Sensor Module (WSM) was included with TechEdSat-5. [24] The satellite reentered the atmosphere on 29 July 2017 after successfully operating for 144 days. [23]

Simulated view of TechEdSat-5 after deployment from the International Space Station Sstp t5p5 with iss2-1024x678.jpg
Simulated view of TechEdSat-5 after deployment from the International Space Station

TechEdSat-6

TechEdSat-6
NamesTES-6
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA Ames Research Center  · San Jose State University  · University of Idaho
COSPAR ID 1998-067NK
SATCAT no. 43026
Mission duration175 days (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Launch mass3.6 kg (7.9 lb)
Dimensions10 cm x 10 cm x 35 cm (3.5U)
Start of mission
Launch date12 November 2017,
12:19:51 UTC
Rocket Antares 230
Launch site Wallops Island MARS, LP-0A
Contractor Orbital Sciences Corporation
Deployment date20 November 2017
End of mission
Decay date14 May 2018
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 397 km (247 mi)
Apogee altitude 406 km (252 mi)
Inclination 51.65°
Period 92.59 minutes

TechEdSat-6 was a CubeSat 3.5U that was launched at 12:19:51 UTC on 12 November 2017 aboard the Cygnus CRS-8 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). [25] [26] It was deployed from the Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer on 20 November 2017. [27] In addition to the primary payload, it contained a CubeSat Identity Tag (CUBIT), a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag developed by DARPA and SRI International to assist in future identification of satellites. It successfully reentered the atmosphere on 14 May 2018. [28] [29]

TechEdSat-6, seen here just after being deployed from the International Space Station, was a CubeSat mission that tested technologies intended to make it easier to return science materials to Earth from space. TechEdSat-6.png
TechEdSat-6, seen here just after being deployed from the International Space Station, was a CubeSat mission that tested technologies intended to make it easier to return science materials to Earth from space.

TechEdSat-7

TechEdSat-7
NamesTES-7
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA Ames Research Center  · San Jose State University
COSPAR ID 2021-002D
SATCAT no. 47312
Mission duration60 days (planned)
471 days (final)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Launch mass3 kg (6.6 lb)
Dimensions10 cm x 10 cm x 22 cm (2U)
Start of mission
Launch date17 January 2021, 19:39:00 UTC
Rocket LauncherOne
Launch site Cosmic Girl (Boeing 747), Mojave Air and Space Port, California
Contractor Virgin Orbit
Deployment date17 January 2021
End of mission
Decay date4 May 2022
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit [12]
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 485 km (301 mi)
Apogee altitude 513 km (319 mi)
Inclination 60.7°
Period 94.6 minutes

TechEdSat-7 was a 2U CubeSat that was intended to test a High Packing Density Exo-Brake. It was launched on the first successful flight of Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne launch vehicle on 17 January 2021 as part of NASA's ELaNa program. It flew with a CubeSat Identity Tag (CUBIT), a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag developed by DARPA and SRI International to assist in future identification of satellites. [30] The satellite decayed from orbit on 4 May 2022. [31]

TechEdSat-8

TechEdSat-8
NamesTES-8
Technical and Educational Satellite-8
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA Ames Research Center  · San Jose State University  · University of Idaho
COSPAR ID 1998-067PY
SATCAT no. 44032
Mission duration501 days (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Launch mass6 kg (13 lb)
Dimensions10 cm x 10 cm x 60 cm (6U)
Start of mission
Launch date5 December 2018, 18:16:00 UTC
Rocket Falcon 9 Block 5
Launch site Cape Canaveral, SLC-40
Contractor SpaceX
Deployment date31 January 2019, 16:45 UTC
End of mission
Decay date20 April 2020
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 402 km (250 mi)
Apogee altitude 409 km (254 mi)
Inclination 51.64°
Period 92.67 minutes

TechEdSat-8 (Technical and Educational Satellite-8) was CubeSat 6U. It was built as a conjoined project between San Jose State University (SJSU) and the University of Idaho as a collaborative engineering project, with oversight from the NASA Ames Research Center. It was a technology demonstration mission to further develop and demonstrate the Exo-Brake system through, designed for continued operation in high temperature environments, the full recovery of a payload. It featured a semi-autonomous control system to target the entry face point, as well as capabilities to measure a unique ablation device on the forebody. This technology, known as a "Hot Exo-Brake" could enable more precisely-targeted atmospheric reentries. An ablation device was also flying on the spacecraft.

History

TechEdSat-8 was selected in 2017 by the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) of the NASA to be launched as part of the ELaNa program. TechEdSat-8 was originally planned to launch with the Cygnus NG-10 (17 November 2018) cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station as part of the ELaNa program, but instead was launched aboard the SpaceX CRS-16 ISS cargo resupply mission at 18:16 UTC on 5 December 2018, [32] arriving at the International Space Station (ISS) on 8 December 2018. [33] [34]

Deployment

TechEdSat-8 was deployed into orbit by the Kibō JEM-Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) at 16:45 UTC on 31 January 2019. [35]

Mission

The satellite established communication with controllers and, as of 20 February 2019, was reportedly performing well in advance of a targeted reentry. [36] The satellite failed shortly after deployment due to a loss of power from its solar panels, and re-entered in the atmosphere of Earth on 20 April 2020. [37] [38]

An exploded view of TechEdSat-8, a satellite designed to test communication and precision deorbit technologies. TechEdSat-8 Exploded View.jpg
An exploded view of TechEdSat-8, a satellite designed to test communication and precision deorbit technologies.

TechEdSat-10

TechEdSat-10
NamesTES-10
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA Ames Research Center  · San Jose State University
COSPAR ID 2020-067RQ
SATCAT no. 45917
Mission duration393 days (final)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Launch mass6 kg (13 lb)
Dimensions10 cm x 10 cm x 60 cm (6U)
Power150 watt-hour
Start of mission
Launch date15 February 2020, 20:21:01 UTC
Rocket Antares 230+
Launch site MARS, LP-0A
Contractor Northrop Grumman
Deployment date13 July 2020, 16:55:25 UTC
End of mission
Decay date15 March 2021, 08:37:00 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 413 km (257 mi)
Apogee altitude 419 km (260 mi)
Inclination 51.60°
Period 92.00 minutes
TechEdSat-10 deploys from the International Space Station TechEdSat-10.jpg
TechEdSat-10 deploys from the International Space Station
TechEdSat-10 exo-brake precision de-orbit technology demonstration deploying in orbit around Earth. TechEdSat-10 (2).jpg
TechEdSat-10 exo-brake precision de-orbit technology demonstration deploying in orbit around Earth.

TechEdSat-10 (TES-10) was a 6U (1 x 6U) (previously announced as 3U) CubeSat that was selected in 2018 to launch as part of the ELaNa program. [39]

Launch

On 15 February 2020, TechEdSat-10 was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Cygnus NG-13 cargo spacecraft. [40]

Deployment

Deployed on 13 July 2020, TechEdSat-10 tested radio communication devices, precision deorbit technologies for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and others, radiation tolerant electronics, and artificial intelligence hardware for future experiments. [41] [37] [40]

Mission

The mission demonstrated increased storage and power capabilities that could enable future science and exploration using small spacecraft beyond low-Earth orbit. Included on TechEdSat-10 were improvements over previous CubeSat technologies in the areas of communications and radio systems, and new propulsion techniques. [42]

As the tenth iteration in the Technology Educational Satellite (TES) series, TechEdSat-10 built upon a history of the program's innovative work with early career researchers, students, and volunteers. TechEdSat-10 contained 150 watt-hours of power storage, eight radios, nine processors, and a graphics processing unit. Additionally, the small satellite carried four cameras, including a stereoscopic virtual reality camera experiment. [42]

Like several TechEdSat missions before it, this mission demonstrated the exo-brake technology in its largest iteration to date. The exo-brake was designed to deploy an umbrella-like "brake" to increase drag and take a small satellite out of orbit. This mission, the exo-brake could be controlled or modulated by commands from the ground in order to target a re-entry point. In the future, this could enable sample return missions from orbit and future planetary missions. [42]

TechEdSat-11

TechEdSat-11
NamesTES-11
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA Ames Research Center  · San Jose State University
COSPAR ID 2024-125F
SATCAT no. 60208
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Launch mass7 kg (15 lb)
Dimensions(6U)
Start of mission
Launch date4 July 2024
Rocket Firefly Alpha
Launch site Vandenberg AFB, California
Contractor Firefly Aerospace
Deployment date4 July 2024, 04:50:01 UTC
End of mission
Decay date UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit [12]
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 490 km (300 mi)
Apogee altitude 525 km (326 mi)
Inclination 97.4°
Period 94.8 minutes

TechEdSat-11 is a 6U CubeSat.

TechEdSat-13

TechEdSat-13
NamesTES-13
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA Ames Research Center  · San Jose State University
COSPAR ID 2022-003B
SATCAT no. 51095
Mission duration252 days (planned)
912 days (actual)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Launch mass4 kg (8.8 lb)
Dimensions10 cm x 10 cm x 34 cm (3U)
Start of mission
Launch date13 January 2022
Rocket LauncherOne # 4
Launch site Cosmic Girl (Boeing 747), Mojave Air and Space Port, California
Contractor Virgin Orbit
Deployment date13 January 2022, 23:47:00 UTC
End of mission
Decay date13 July 2024, 19:52:00 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit [12]
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 499 km (310 mi)
Apogee altitude 509 km (316 mi)
Inclination 45.0°
Period 92.6 minutes

TechEdSat-13 is a 3U CubeSat that is intended to test and validate three different technologies, including an Exo-Brake. Along with other cubesats (PAN-A and B, GEARRS-3, SteamSat-2, STORK-3, ADLER-1) it was launched on the third successful flight of Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne launch vehicle on 13 January 2022 as part of the STP-27VP mission ("Above the Clouds"). TechEdSat-13 uses the Loihi neuromorphic chip, representing an artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) payload application.

TechEdSat-15

TechEdSat-15
NamesTES-15
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA Ames Research Center  · San Jose State University
COSPAR ID 2022-122?
SATCAT no. 5395?
Mission duration4 days (final)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Launch mass4.5 kg (9.9 lb)
Dimensions10 cm x 10 cm x 34 cm (3U)
Start of mission
Launch date1 October 2022, 07:01:00 UTC
Rocket Firefly Alpha
Launch site Vandenberg AFB, California
Contractor Firefly Aerospace
Deployment date1 October 2022
End of mission
Decay date6 October 2022
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit [12]
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 215 km (134 mi)
Apogee altitude 285 km (177 mi)
Inclination 137.0°
Period 89.6 minutes

TechEdSat-15 was a 3U CubeSat. It was launched on 1 October 2022 as a rideshare payload on a Firefly Alpha rocket. Despite it being its first mission reaching Earth orbit, due to a lower-than-intended deployment orbit most of the satellites re-entered before reaching their intended design life. [43]

Future TechEdSats

TechEdSat-9 and TechEdSat-11 are planned to fly at some point in the future. [44] TechEdSat-9, like TechEdSat-10, is planned to test radio communication technologies for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and others. [37]

TechEdSat-12 will test technologies for the tracking and identification of small satellites. It will carry a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, a radar reflector, and an L-band antenna. It was selected for launch in February 2020 by NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative, and will be delivered to orbit on a launch contracted through the ELaNa program. [45]

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OA-8E was the ninth flight of the Orbital ATK uncrewed resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its eighth flight to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract with NASA. The mission launched on 12 November 2017 at 12:19:51 UTC. Orbital and NASA jointly developed a new space transportation system to provide commercial cargo resupply services to the International Space Station (ISS). Under the Commercial Orbital Transportation System (COTS) program, then Orbital Sciences designed and built Antares, a medium-class launch vehicle; Cygnus, an advanced maneuvering spacecraft, and a Pressurized Cargo Module which is provided by Orbital's industrial partner Thales Alenia Space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus OA-9E</span> Mid-2018 cargo mission to the ISS

OA-9E was the tenth flight of the Cygnus, an uncrewed resupply spacecraft. The flight was launched by Orbital ATK (OA), which was purchased by Northrop Grumman during the mission. It was the ninth flight under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA and conducted under an extension, leading to the "E" in the mission name. The mission launched on 21 May 2018 at 08:44:06 UTC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus NG-10</span> Late 2018 cargo mission to the ISS

NG-10, previously known as OA-10E, is the eleventh flight of the Northrop Grumman uncrewed resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its tenth flight to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract with NASA. The mission launched on 17 November 2018, at 09:01:31 UTC. This particular mission is part of an extension of the initial CRS contract that enables NASA to cover the ISS resupply needs until the Commercial Resupply Services-2 (CRS-2) contract enters in effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus NG-11</span> Mid-2019 cargo mission to the ISS

NG-11, previously known as OA-11, is the twelfth flight of the Northrop Grumman robotic resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its eleventh flight to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract with NASA. The mission launched on 17 April 2019 at 20:46:07 UTC. This is the last mission from the extended CRS-1 contract; follow-up missions are part of the CRS-2 contract. Cygnus NG-11 was also the first mission to load critical hardware onto Cygnus within the last 24 hours prior to launch, a new Antares feature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus NG-12</span> 2019 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

NG-12, previously known as OA-12, was the thirteenth flight of the Northrop Grumman robotic resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its twelfth Commercial Resupply Services flight to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA. The mission launched on 2 November 2019 at 13:59:47 UTC). This was the first launch of Cygnus under the Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RaInCube</span> American experimental satellite

RaInCube, also stylized as RainCube, was a 6U CubeSat made by NASA as an experimental satellite. It had a small radar and an antenna. It was put into orbit in May 2018 and was deployed from the International Space Station on June 25, 2018. It re-entered Earth's atmosphere and burned up on Dec. 24, 2020. It was used to track large storms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus NG-13</span> 2020 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

NG-13, previously known as OA-13, was the fourteenth flight of the Northrop Grumman robotic resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its thirteenth flight to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract with NASA. The mission launched on 15 February 2020 at 20:21:01 UTC after nearly a week of delays. This is the second launch of Cygnus under the CRS-2 contract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus NG-14</span> 2020 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

NG-14, previously known as OA-14, was the fifteenth flight of the Northrop Grumman robotic resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its fourteenth flight to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract with NASA. The mission was launched on 3 October 2020, at 01:16:14 UTC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus NG-15</span> 2021 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

Cygnus NG-15, previously known as OA-15, was the fifteenth launch of the Northrop Grumman robotic resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its fourteenth flight to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The mission launched on 20 February 2021 at 17:36:50 UTC. This is the fourth launch of Cygnus under the CRS-2 contract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus NG-16</span> 2021 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

NG-16, previously known as OA-16, was the sixteenth flight of the Northrop Grumman robotic resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its fifteenth flight to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-2) contract with NASA. The mission was launched on 10 August 2021 at 22:01:05 UTC, for a (planned) 90-day mission at the ISS. This was the fifth launch of Cygnus under the CRS-2 contract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-26</span> 2022 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX CRS-26, also known as SpX-26, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 26 November 2022. The mission was contracted by NASA and flown by SpaceX using a Cargo Dragon. This was the sixth flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2 contract awarded in January 2016.

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