Small Spacecraft Technology Program

Space Technology Mission Directorate
Ames Research Center
CubeSats
Game Changing Development Program
General
Small Satellite Missions
Small Spacecraft Technology Program
Tech Demo Missions
After ten months in orbit, the Starling spacecraft swarm successfully demonstrated its primary mission’s key objectives, representing significant achievements in the capability of swarm configurations.  Swarms of satellites may one day be used in deep space exploration.
Posted May 29, 2024
Ames Research Center
General
Langley Research Center
NASA Centers & Facilities
Small Spacecraft Technology Program
Space Technology Mission Directorate
A NASA mission testing a new way of navigating our solar system is ready to hoist its sail into space – not to catch the wind, but the propulsive power of sunlight. The Advanced Composite Solar Sail System is targeting launch on Tuesday, April 23 (Wednesday, April 24 in New Zealand) aboard a Rocket Lab Electron […]
Posted April 17, 2024
General
Ames Research Center
Langley Research Center
Small Spacecraft Technology Program
Space Technology Mission Directorate
Sailing through space might sound like something out of science fiction, but the concept is no longer limited to books or the big screen. In April, a next-generation solar sail technology – known as the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System – will launch aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from the company’s Launch Complex 1 in […]
Posted April 10, 2024
Flight Opportunities Program
Small Spacecraft Technology Program
Space Technology Mission Directorate
NASA has selected 15 companies to provide flight and payload integration services to advance technologies and procedures for operating in space, including testing in high-altitude, reduced gravity, or other relevant environments. Examples of payloads include NASA science instruments or technology demonstrations.
Posted March 4, 2024
Small Spacecraft Technology Program
Ames Research Center
Space Technology Mission Directorate
Preparations are underway for a new, small spacecraft technology demonstration that will test cost-efficient swarm capabilities – the ability for multiple spacecraft to communicate and perform coordinated actions. The PY4 mission’s four CubeSats are slated to launch Monday March 4, 2:05 p.m.
Posted March 4, 2024
General
Ames Research Center
CubeSats
Low-Earth Orbit Economy
Small Satellite Missions
Small Spacecraft Technology Program
SmallSats Program
Space Technology Mission Directorate
Tech Demo Missions
NASA’s Starling CubeSats are zipping through low Earth orbit in the agency’s latest test of robotic swarm technologies for space.  The four Starling spacecraft, launched in July 2023, are testing a group of small satellites ability to coordinate and cooperate independently without real-time updates from mission control.
Posted October 24, 2023
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