Missions

More about our current, future, and past missions.

Current Missions

Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi)

Launched: 02/15/2020, Size: 6U, Application: technology demonstration, Payload: MEMS deformable mirror

Future Missions

AERO-VISTA

Lead Agency: MIT Haystack Launched: TBD, Size: 6U, Application: Study auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) Payload: Electromagnetic vector sensor (VS)

BeaverCube

Launched: Expected 05/2022 Size: 3U, Application: Earth observation and tech demo for propulsion systems, Payload: 3 Cameras – 2 IR, 1 Visible; test propulsion system

BeaverCube II

Launched: TBD – 2023, Size: 3U, Application: Earth observation and Machine Learning – Ocean front shift characterization, Payload: Testing AI enabled processors

CLICK A

Launched: Expected 12/2021 Size: 3U, Application: CubeSat Laser Communications Uplink/Downlink Demo, Payload: Laser, Receiver, Quad Sensor, Fast Steering Mirror

CLICK B/C

Launched: TBD – 2023, Size: 3U, Application: CubeSat Laser Communications Crosslink Demo, Payload: Laser, Receiver, Quad Sensor, Fast Steering Mirror

STEP-1

Launched: TBD Size: 3U, Application: Technology Demo, Payload: Electrospray Propulsion

MORE….

Past Missions

MicroMAS-1 (Micro-sized Microwave Atmospheric Satellite)

Launched: 03/04/2015, Size: 3U, Application: atmospheric science, Payload: multispectral passive microwave radiometer

MicroMAS-2a

Launched: 01/12/2018, Size: 3U, Application: atmospheric science, Payload: Spinning 12-channel passive microwave spectrometer, temperature sounding, moisture sounding

MiRaTa (Microwave Radiometer Technology Acceleration)

Launched: 11/18/2017 Size: 3U Application: atmospheric science Payloads: multi-band miniaturized microwave radiometer

Regolith X-ray Imaging Spectrome (REXIS)

REXIS was the payload for OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. Launched: 9/8/2016, Application: Asteroid-study and sample-return, Payload: X-ray Imaging Spectrometer to measure mineral composition of Bennu asteroid.

Past Sub-Orbital Missions

Photo credit to Steve Boxall

Folded Lightweight Actuated Precision System (FLAPS)

MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative, Sub-orbital launch test. Looking at use of shape memory alloys (SMAs) to actively control the position of solar arrays on a CubeSat. To be used by the Aerospace Corporation on a 6U sat.

Candlewax Rockets

MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative, Sub-orbital launch test looking at microgravity-based centrifugal casting of paraffin and beeswax in order to reduce barriers to their use as in-space propellants.

Mini Optical Steered Antenna for Intersatellite Comms (MOSAIC)

MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative, Sub-orbital launch test. Testing liquid lens technology for receiving and transmitting laser beams in any direction over a hemisphere.

Affiliate Missions

TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite)

Lead Agency: MIT Kavli Institute Launched: 04/18/2018, Application: Exoplanet detection, Payloads: 4 wide field-of-view CCD cameras to perform all-sky survey

TROPICS Pathfinder

Lead Agency: MIT Lincoln Laboratory Launched: 06/30/2021, Size: 3U, Application: weather sensing – precipitation structure and storm monitoring, Payload: 12-channel passive spectrometer

NGRST (Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, WFIRST)

Lead Agency: NASA Goddard