NASA Tests Scalable Satellite Tech to Launch Sensors Quicker

NASA's Athena Economical Payload Integration Cost (Athena EPIC) mission is a test launch for an innovative, scalable space vehicle design that supports future missions. The small satellite platform, provided by industry partner NovaWurks, utilizes a Hyper-Integrated Satlet (HISat) architecture, which allows for shared resources among payloads and reduces costs.

Key Features:

The HISat instruments are designed to be modular and flexible, similar to interlocking building blocks. This architecture enables SensorCraft to be built in various sizes and shapes to accommodate different payloads, providing easier and less expensive access to space.

Benefits:

The Athena EPIC mission demonstrates a new approach to space exploration, where payloads can share resources and reduce complexity. By leveraging existing hardware and technologies, NASA aims to increase the speed of discovery and reduce costs. According to Clayton Turner, Associate Administrator for Space Technology Mission Directorate, "Increasing the speed of discovery is foundational to NASA."

Partnerships:

The Athena EPIC mission has partnerships with NOAA and the U.S. Space Force. NASA's Langley Research Center designed and built the Athena sensor payload, which consists of an optical module, a calibration module, and a sensor electronics assembly. The sensor was built using spare parts from NASA's CERES mission.

Launch:

Athena EPIC is scheduled to launch on July 22 as a rideshare on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The primary NASA payload on the launch will be the TRACERS mission, led by the University of Iowa.

Impact:

The Athena EPIC mission has the potential to transform the way instruments are launched into space, reducing costs from billions to millions per mission. According to Kory Priestley, principal investigator for Athena EPIC, "This is a very different approach moving forward for Earth observation." With its innovative design and modular architecture, Athena EPIC could pave the way for more efficient and cost-effective space exploration.