This marks the first-ever satellite tv for pc Exolaunch has deployed for NASA,
which launched through Rocket Lab’s Electron automobile on April 23, 2024.
Exolaunch supplied the deployment providers for NASA’s Superior Composite Photo voltaic Sail System (ACS3) satellite tv for pc aboard Rocket Lab’s “Starting of the Swarm” mission.
The liftoff occurred on April twenty third. at 1000 NZT / 2200 UTC from Rocket Lab Launch Advanced 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. As the primary satellite tv for pc the corporate has deployed for NASA, this landmark launch is Exolaunch’s twenty eighth mission.
ACS3, which encompasses a 12U nanosatellite (smallsat) bus constructed by Kongsberg NanoAvionics, is testing new buildings for photo voltaic sail techniques, which harness daylight for propulsion. The satellite tv for pc was efficiently deployed into orbit utilizing Exolaunch’s flight-proven EXOpod deployer.
With NASA’s ACS3 now in orbit, the mission’s main goal is to check the deployment of light-weight booms designed to unfurl a photo voltaic sail measuring about 30 ft per aspect. ACS3 marks the primary use of composite booms, in addition to sail packing and deployment techniques, for a photo voltaic sail in house. Moreover, exploring photo voltaic crusing as a viable different to chemical and electrical propulsion techniques is essential to enabling future low-cost, environment friendly deep house missions.
This revolutionary expertise holds nice promise for quite a lot of purposes, together with house climate monitoring satellites, asteroid reconnaissance missions, and photo voltaic statement missions, contributing to important developments in house exploration and science.
“Exolaunch is honored to have been part of NASA’s ACS3 mission,” stated Jake Cornish, U.S. launch director at Exolaunch. “Congratulations to NASA and Kongsberg NanoAvionics on reaching this important milestone, and thanks, Rocket Lab, for a clean journey to orbit. We’re excited to see the potential purposes of ACS3 unfold, and are proud to assist and allow NASA’s revolutionary endeavors in house exploration utilizing small satellites.”
