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New 'Pizza-Sized' Satellites Launch for Space Tech Test
19 Dec
Summary
- Four novel DiskSats launched into orbit on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket.
- These thin, disc-shaped satellites offer greater surface area for payloads.
- DiskSats aim to provide better power-to-weight ratios than CubeSats.
Four new DiskSats, a novel flat-disc satellite design, successfully launched into orbit early on Thursday from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The mission, a joint endeavor funded by NASA and the US Space Force, aims to demonstrate the performance and viability of these unique spacecraft.
The DiskSats, developed by the Aerospace Corporation, are 39 inches wide and only 1 inch thick, offering a compact and lightweight form factor optimized for rideshare missions. Engineers believe this design provides a significantly better power-to-weight ratio and more surface area for payloads compared to existing CubeSats, potentially enabling new mission capabilities.
During the demonstration mission, the DiskSats will be tested at various altitudes, including very low-Earth orbit, where their flat shape is expected to minimize aerodynamic drag. The Aerospace Corporation plans to license this flight-proven technology to industry partners, viewing DiskSats as a potentially disruptive advancement in the small spacecraft sector.
