AeroCube-14 consists of two identical 3-unit CubeSats that launched as part of the Northrop Grumman-12 Cygnus cargo mission to the International Space Station. Manifested as AeroCube-14, the CubeSats are part of the National Reconnaissance Office’s IMPACT program, led by the Advanced Systems and Technology directorate. The program is a research and development effort to evaluate new technologies in space.AeroCube-14’s experiments include nanotechnology payloads that will test new and emerging materials, including structural materials and thermal straps, in a space environment. (snip)AeroCube-14 will ultimately be delivered to its target orbit by the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer mounted on the external surface of the Cygnus spacecraft at an altitude of about 500 kilometers.
Seven CubeSats were also housed inside a Slingshot deployment mechanism on the Cygnus spacecraft’s forward hatch. Supplied by Hypergiant SEOPS, the Slingshot was expected to release seven small CubeSats, according to Kristina Libby, an executive vice president at Hypergiant.
One of the CubeSats deployed from the Slingshot mechanism was CIRiS, which stands for the Compact Radiometer in Space.
The EdgeCube nanosatellite — a 4-inch-wide (10-centimeter) 1-unit CubeSat — also separated from the Cygnus spacecraft’s Slingshot deployer.
Other CubeSats deployed from the from the Slingshot mechanism were MiniCarb for NASA and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the Very Low Frequency Propagation Mapper for the Air Force Research Laboratory.
A tiny satellite named MakerSat 1 developed by students at Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho was also packed in the Slingshot deployer. MakeSat 1 was designed to be quickly snap-assembled by astronauts on the space station, then loaded into its deployment slot.
A CubeSat for DARPA, the U.S. military’s research and development arm, was also deployed from the Slingshot device.
The Slingshot also carried a payload for Lynk — formerly known as Ubiquitilink — a Virginia-based with ambitions to launch a constellation of tiny satellites to extend the reach of terrestrial cell phone networks.
The U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center and its mission partners successfully deployed Aerospace’s Rogue Alpha and Rogue Beta CubeSats from the Northrop Grumman Cygnus capsule at 1 p.m. and 4:10 p.m. respectively, Jan. 31, 2020.
Northrop Grumman has set a new date/time for de-orbit: Mar 17, ~23:00 UTC
They made it.https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/02/03/cygnus-departs-space-station-deploys-cubesats/QuoteSeven CubeSats were also housed inside a Slingshot deployment mechanism on the Cygnus spacecraft’s forward hatch. Supplied by Hypergiant SEOPS, the Slingshot was expected to release seven small CubeSats, according to Kristina Libby, an executive vice president at Hypergiant.QuoteOne of the CubeSats deployed from the Slingshot mechanism was CIRiS, which stands for the Compact Radiometer in Space.QuoteThe EdgeCube nanosatellite — a 4-inch-wide (10-centimeter) 1-unit CubeSat — also separated from the Cygnus spacecraft’s Slingshot deployer. QuoteOther CubeSats deployed from the from the Slingshot mechanism were MiniCarb for NASA and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the Very Low Frequency Propagation Mapper for the Air Force Research Laboratory.QuoteA tiny satellite named MakerSat 1 developed by students at Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho was also packed in the Slingshot deployer. MakeSat 1 was designed to be quickly snap-assembled by astronauts on the space station, then loaded into its deployment slot.QuoteA CubeSat for DARPA, the U.S. military’s research and development arm, was also deployed from the Slingshot device. QuoteThe Slingshot also carried a payload for Lynk — formerly known as Ubiquitilink — a Virginia-based with ambitions to launch a constellation of tiny satellites to extend the reach of terrestrial cell phone networks.
Ignition. Just as the RD-181 begins to roar, Antares shakes off its coating of ice in the warm dawn light. I've been sitting on this frame since NG-12 launched but could never figure out a good edit. Finally took another crack at it today!