Seattle – Spaceflight Inc., a company that provides access to space for deployed and hosted payloads and specializes in the launch of CubeSats, NanoSats, and MicroSats, has signed NovaWurks Inc., to a launch services agreement for the eXCITe spacecraft, which NovaWurks is developing as part of the Phoenix program for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The eXCITe spacecraft would ride to low Earth orbit on Spaceflight’s SHERPA in-space transportation platform, which is scheduled for launch along with roughly 1,200kg of other small satellite rideshare customers in Q3 2015.
This mission is designed to be a key enabler in confirming the feasibility of satlets, a new low-cost, modular satellite architecture that DARPA is developing. Satlets are small independent modules – roughly 15 lb (7 kg) – that incorporate essential satellite functionality (power supplies, movement controls, sensors, etc.). Satlets can physically aggregate (attach together) in different combinations and scales and would provide capabilities to accomplish a range of diverse space missions with payloads of any type, size or shape. eXCITe uses NovaWurks’ Hyper-Integrated Satlet (HISat).
Curt Blake, president of Spaceflight, commented, “DARPA’s Phoenix program is a near perfect fit with SHERPA’s capabilities, which will open up additional access to space on commercial launch vehicles, as well as acting as an enabler for future missions to unique orbits.” Blake added, “This is an exciting time for new business models and concepts in the satellite industry, and we are thrilled to be working with a cutting-edge technology trailblazer like NovaWurks.”
NovaWurks’ chief technologist, Talbot Jaeger, further explained, “eXCITe is a prime example of the flexibility of the HISat platform to be configured as a Conformal Spacecraft. Proving this capability within the DARPA Phoenix program is a first step in realizing a revolutionary new way to construct more affordable satellites. We are pleased to partner with a like-minded organization such as Spaceflight for this mission.”
Founded in 2011, Spaceflight has launched 76 satellites to date, and has more than 105 spacecraft under contract for launches scheduled between 2014 and 2017.
Source: Spaceflight Inc.