MULA is currently planned for Transporter-16. [Aug 12]QuoteThe MULA Satellite is developed in the United Kingdom by 16 Filipino engineers deployed by PhilSA.The satellite is expected to be launched in the United States within October of 2025 to March 2026 using SpaceX Transporter-16.SSTLQuoteMULA (Multi-Spectral Unit for Land Assessment) is an earth observation satellite mission for the Philippine Space Agency (Philsa). The satellite is an SSTL True Colour which is a 130kg platform with a wide-swath multi-spectral imaging instrument and AIS/ADS-B secondary payload.
The MULA Satellite is developed in the United Kingdom by 16 Filipino engineers deployed by PhilSA.The satellite is expected to be launched in the United States within October of 2025 to March 2026 using SpaceX Transporter-16.
MULA (Multi-Spectral Unit for Land Assessment) is an earth observation satellite mission for the Philippine Space Agency (Philsa). The satellite is an SSTL True Colour which is a 130kg platform with a wide-swath multi-spectral imaging instrument and AIS/ADS-B secondary payload.
Care Weather's 10 kg Veery-1A radar satellite will be on Transporter-16.QuoteLaunch date: January 2026Launch provider: SpaceXLaunch vehicle: Falcon 9Orbital altitude: 550 kmOrbital inclination: 97°Mission duration: 60 monthsOrbital life: 5 years
Launch date: January 2026Launch provider: SpaceXLaunch vehicle: Falcon 9Orbital altitude: 550 kmOrbital inclination: 97°Mission duration: 60 monthsOrbital life: 5 years
The first Lumir X satellite is scheduled to launch in early 2026 aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle, with future second-generation Lumir X satellites expected to achieve resolutions of up to 0.15 meters.
SpaceBey said today that it has signed a brokerage agreement to launch a small Earth observation satellite for a Korean space company.The satellite will launch using SpaceX’s Transporter launch service in the second half of 2025, and it will be the first of the constellation satellites that the company is developing.
Momentus Inc, a U.S. commercial space company offering satellite buses, technologies, transportation, and other in-space infrastructure services, today announced it has signed a contract with SpaceX to join an upcoming Transporter rideshare mission launching as soon as early 2026.Momentus plans to use this port for the launch of its flight-proven Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV) to transport a mix of payloads from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial customers to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).For this mission, Momentus has additional capacity to support customers planning LEO deployment and hosted payload missions in early 2026. Government and commercial customers interested in utilizing the ability of the Vigoride vehicle to cost-effectively launch and deliver microsatellites up to 200 kg and cubesats, provide average power up to 1kW, and deploy or operate hosted payloads in orbits above 500 km and below the International Space Station are encouraged to contact Momentus while booking opportunities remain open.
Momentus Inc. has signed a contract with Orbit Fab to provide hosted payload services for the on-orbit demonstration of Podracer, a space domain awareness payload, and the Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface (RAFTI). The mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than February 2026 aboard a SpaceX Transporter rideshare mission.Funded by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Podracer will conduct a flight demonstration of infrared imaging sensors, image processing technology, and a control module to enhance space domain awareness aboard the Vigoride 7 orbital service vehicle (OSV). Podracer will also be used as part of a rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) demonstration mission that Momentus plans to conduct during the Vigoride 7 mission using a system developed by Momentus.Through Vigoride’s communications and data transfer systems, Orbit Fab will operate the Podracer payload remotely from its Mission Operations Center in Colorado, ensuring real-time control and monitoring of the hosted payload mission.During the Vigoride 7 mission, Momentus and Orbit Fab plan to conduct the first flight demonstration of a hydrazine compatible, Space Systems Command approved RAFTI. Orbit Fab’s advanced refueling interface is designed to extend the operational lifespan of satellites, by enabling spacecraft docking and refueling, thereby eliminating the current limitations imposed by onboard fuel reserves. This advancement is expected to significantly reduce costs and improve operational flexibility for satellite operators by mitigating mission constraints caused by fuel shortages.
🛰️ Orbit Fab's electronic control systems are now qualified for Geostationary Orbit operations.✅ First unit shipped to partner, ready to drive interface and propellant feed systems and telemetry✅ One of two systems launching in 2026, enabling the refueling of multiple US government satellites✅ Electronics tested to survive launch conditions and the harsh thermal/radiation environment of deep spaceAs satellites need fuel and refueling systems require precise control and monitoring, this milestone brings us closer to extended satellite missions through reliable in-space refueling.
Momentus plans to launch DPhi’s Clustergate-2 payload aboard its Vigoride 7 orbital service vehicle targeted for launch in early 2026, to deliver dynamic compute capabilities in orbit.Clustergate is a is a self-contained payload bay designed to turn any host spacecraft into a shared, high-performance hub. The Clustergate-2 mission focuses on software payloads to enable the deployment and operation of software applications throughout the mission lifecycle, unlocking new opportunities for real-time and autonomous data processing from orbit.
We are happy to share that our cameras have been integrated on Momentus's Vigoride 7 launching on Transponder-16. This is part of one of our SBIRs and will help to build heritage for the cameras flying on our Kamino and Rancor missions to test our ability to find and track objects validating our RPO algorithms. This will allow our team to gain experience operating hardware in space before our US government-led refueling missions launch in late 2026.
Momentus Inc. today announced the successful completion of Environmental Testing of its Vigoride-7 Orbital Service Vehicle, scheduled to launch aboard SpaceX's Transporter-16 mission targeted for launch no earlier than March 2026. Vigoride 7 is scheduled to carry payloads for several customers, including the U.S. Defense Department, NASA, and commercial customers, that will generate new revenue.The rigorous testing campaign included Thermal Testing, which simulated the extreme temperature swings of space to validate spacecraft performance and reliability; and Vibration Testing conducted at Experior Laboratories, which exposed Vigoride-7 to the mechanical stresses of launch conditions.
Momentus Inc. today announced the development of an additive manufactured fuel tank. The fuel tank is scheduled to perform flight testing aboard Momentus’s Vigoride-7 Orbital Service Vehicle. The tank was produced in collaboration with Velo3D, a leading provider of advanced metal additive manufacturing technology.This milestone demonstrates the potential of additive manufacturing to accelerate innovation in spacecraft design, reduce production timelines, and enable complex geometries that improve performance in demanding space environments.
Tilebox today announced a contracted in-orbit demonstration scheduled for flight in March 2026, executing GPU-accelerated data compression workflows from The Compression Company on a hosted flight computer provided by DPhi Space as part of its Clustergate 2 mission.The demonstration builds on a completed pre-flight integration and will validate Tilebox’s ability to orchestrate production software workflows on space-based compute infrastructure, including workflow automation, observability, parallel execution, and over-the-air updates.The Compression Company, a commercial software provider specializing in GPU-accelerated data compression for Earth observation workloads, is participating as an application partner in the demonstration. Its algorithms, which achieve significant data volume reduction, will be executed as Tilebox-managed workflows during the mission. Tilebox serves as the workflow orchestration and execution layer, enabling software providers like The Compression Company to deploy and manage applications in orbit without mission-specific re-engineering.DPhi Space provides access to space-based computing and data services through its multi-node compute cluster hosted on Momentus’ Vigoride 7 spacecraft.[...]The in-orbit demonstration is scheduled for Transporter-16 on SpaceX Falcon 9 and is expected to support multiple workflows using both onboard sensor data and preloaded datasets. Results from the mission will inform future customer offerings and expanded collaboration across upcoming DPhi Space missions.
Momentus to Deploy Defense Department and Commercial Payloads on Rideshare Mission with SpaceX in 2026 [Dec 17]QuoteMomentus Inc, a U.S. commercial space company offering satellite buses, technologies, transportation, and other in-space infrastructure services, today announced it has signed a contract with SpaceX to join an upcoming Transporter rideshare mission launching as soon as early 2026.Momentus plans to use this port for the launch of its flight-proven Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV) to transport a mix of payloads from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial customers to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).For this mission, Momentus has additional capacity to support customers planning LEO deployment and hosted payload missions in early 2026. Government and commercial customers interested in utilizing the ability of the Vigoride vehicle to cost-effectively launch and deliver microsatellites up to 200 kg and cubesats, provide average power up to 1kW, and deploy or operate hosted payloads in orbits above 500 km and below the International Space Station are encouraged to contact Momentus while booking opportunities remain open.
K2 Space has signed a contract with the U.S. Space Force to launch its first Mega Class satellite on a mission code-named "Gravitas." The contract, with a total value of $60 million, includes government funds, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) matching funds, and private funds.The February 2026 mission will demonstrate the ability of the Mega Class satellite bus to proliferate across all orbits, with key demonstrations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). K2 Space will be one of the first commercial companies to demonstrate operations for government and commercial customers in MEO, a regime garnering significant interest for proliferation beyond LEO in programs such as "Resilient GPS."The groundbreaking mission received support and funding from multiple Department of the Air Force organizations, including the Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power PEO, The Space Development Agency, the Space Warfighting Acquisition Delta, the DoD's Space Test Program, the Space Force's National Space Test and Training Complex, and the Air Force Research Lab.[...]The K2 satellite bus represents a step change in satellite capabilities, delivering 10 times more power than any other low-cost bus in its class, and a large 3-meter by 3-meter payload deck. Designed for true multi-orbit functionality, the platform is made to handle the environments of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO), and Cislunar space, supporting future Hybrid Space Architectures. With the ability to stack 10 Mega Class satellites per Falcon 9 (or equivalent launch vehicle) to LEO, the K2 bus will make it possible to deploy constellations in a completely new way.[...]To maintain competitive pricing while delivering superior capabilities, K2 Space manufactures 75% of satellite components in-house, including reaction wheels, flight computers, and solar arrays. The company is also developing the highest power electric propulsion system ever flown – a 20kW system that is four times more powerful than the highest power system flown to date – enabling completely new ways to populate MEO, GEO, and Cislunar constellations with rapid orbit-raise and maneuvering capabilities.The Gravitas mission will demonstrate these revolutionary capabilities while carrying multiple National Security payloads.Mission Timeline • Payload Integration: May 2025 • Qualification Testing: June - September 2025 • Launch: February 2026 (SpaceX Transporter-16) • Extended LEO Operations • Orbit Raising to MEO Demonstration • Extended MEO Operations
K2 Space is developing its first government mission, dubbed Gravitas, under a $60 million Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) agreement, with the Space Force and venture investors each contributing $30 million. The mission, scheduled to launch on SpaceX’s Transporter-16 rideshare in 2026, will deploy multiple national security payloads in low Earth orbit before maneuvering into medium Earth orbit, a region requiring advanced radiation-hardened capabilities.
Following the demonstration mission, K2 Space successfully test fired its 20kW Krypton-fed Hall-effect thruster at full power, marking a pivotal advancement in electric propulsion (EP) technology. The K2 thruster will be the most powerful Hall-effect thruster ever flown in space, enabling the K2 Mega-Class satellite to complete a first of its kind orbit raise from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to MEO with EP in less than 90 days.This unique capability will allow K2 Space to deploy MEO constellations in a way not previously possible. By increasing the number of satellites deployed per launch by 4x, each of which can rapidly raise itself to orbit, K2 Space is able to minimize the number of launches and time required to field a MEO constellation. The thruster was test fired at the company's Torrance headquarters in a custom-built propulsion test chamber, one of the largest such chambers in the world.[...]GRAVITAS, K2's 2026 mission, will operate a K2 Mega-Class satellite at several different altitudes in MEO—a largely untapped orbital regime with unique value for both national security and commercial applications. The Mega-Class satellite platform leveraged for this mission will pair an unprecedented 20kW of onboard power with true multi-orbit capabilities. GRAVITAS is supported by a $60 million STRATFI award from the U.S. Space Force and will carry multiple national security and commercial payloads.
[38:30] "Gravitas" mission, carrying 12 payloads (DoD and commercial) will take the Cake Topper slot on Transporter-16. Will be inserted in SSO then slowly orbit raise to MEO, pausing at 2000, 4000 and 6000 km to collect data.
In November, the team’s first full-size satellite rolled off the production line in Torrance, California. The satellite has 20 kilowatts of power, on par with the highest-power satellites that have been launched to date. But its cost is much lower: K2 will sell each one for around $15 million, a fraction of the roughly $100 million price tag on similar high-power satellites. That’s because K2 is building more than 80% of the satellite in house. [...]Its first launch is planned for March, and the company said multiple launches are planned through 2027 and deployments with customers planned for 2028. The funding round will be used for research and development and to scale up production to push out 10 satellites next year and 30 the following year.
Dwight would like authorization to transmit from MITLL (Hanscom/ Tinker Loop) to a satellite in LEO – Part of the Gravitas launch.Start Date: 04/01/2026End Date: 09/29/2026
Over the next few weeks, we'll be highlighting some of the technical challenges behind our upcoming Gravitas mission, and the people leading the solutions.
The size and power of K2's satellites introduces new complexity to a familiar problem: as vehicle mass and onboard power scale, so does the problem of transporting and rejecting heat across the structure. It's a challenge the thermal team here has taken head on for Gravitas, our first full vehicle test mission. Their work culminated last year with a successful TVAC campaign, which cycled the Gravitas satellite through the temperature extremes it will experience on orbit.With the ground tests complete, the next step is flight this year, collecting real on-orbit environmental data to inform the next stage of our satellite development.
SES boss Adel Al-Salah explained that the first launch of 3 demo missions with K2 Space was expected shortly and its designs of what it describes as “Mega Class” satellites, already dubbed by SES as its MEO-Sphere fleet, but which are much less costly to produce than a conventional Geostationary satellite and speedier to serve the market.[...]This first K2 demo flight is due this Spring and will be carried on the SpaceX Transporter 16 mission. The second flight is expected in 2027 and a third in 2028. Then, after these three tests, K2 will build a fully specified satellite for SES and which should be “agile, manoeuvrable and flexible,” stated Al-Saleh, and very much de-risked./quote]
The Icarus 2.0 mission aims to launch the CubeSat constellation in phases. The payload is already being built, and production of the first satellite will begin as part of the SpaceX Transporter 16 mission with deployment targeted for spring 2026.
Icarus will use modern, commercially operated small satellites from the Munich-based startup OroraTech
With the satellites, however, they started from scratch; with the development of a cube measuring ten by ten centimeters, weighing around nine kilograms, with nine antennas for receiving and transmitting data, each 20 centimeters long. The scientists and developers from Dresden have brought in their experience with Icarus 1.0 and their expertise from other space projects, which is why they have made rapid progress. The small cube will be built into a structure in a larger satellite together with other small cubes for other purposes.[...]In addition to the Icarus cube, the founders are building five of their own cubes of the same type, but they will fly into space as satellites, i.e. not in a structure with other elements. This creates a constellation of six units that are networked together - and very quickly.
We are excited to share significant progress in the ICARUS goes LEO project!We have finalized the hardware design of the payload and have all components ready for final assembly. Last month, we successfully completed the qualification tests, a crucial milestone in our journey. Additionally, we built a mass equivalent model (MEM) for further testing, which we delivered to the satellite manufacturer this week.We are now entering the final phase of the payload construction and are eager to see our hard work come to life.
With LaunchLock, you ‘lock in’ a launch window, up to 3 years in advance of your desired launch date, and then narrow that window as your mission details come into focus. Flexibility at its finest. We manage capacity across multiple LVs to match customer readiness and mission needs, absorbing the risk of aligning customers with the optimal launch.
Now booking launches to:LEO/SSO (via Transporter 16-19+ in ‘26 and beyond)Mid-Inc (several options available)GEO/GTO (SpaceX dedicated direct in ‘28)Lunar (several options available)
Construction of the satellite commenced in 2022, with the launch of the satellite scheduled for 2026 by SpaceX.
Mass: 300 kgOrbit: 600 km polar
The main application of the satellite will be for vessel detection, a long-running service with KSAT. It represents a major improvement to the capabilities for vessel identification and dark target classifications, as the satellite will cover large ocean areas but with high-resolution imagery. There are no satellite systems with similar characteristics today. The SAR satellite will provide data for a 300 km swath with a spatial resolution of 3 meters.
Momentus Inc. today announced that the U.S. Air Force Research Labs AFWERX organization has selected a proposal from Momentus to perform an in-space demonstration flight of a new, low-cost suite of multispectral sensors for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO).AFWERX is the innovation arm of the U.S. Air Force under the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). AFWERX has been chartered to bring cutting-edge ingenuity from small businesses to address the most pressing challenges of the Air Force.In 2024, Momentus submitted a proposal under the AFWERX Challenge and was recently formally notified that its proposal for a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project to perform a multi-spectral RPO demonstration was selected after evaluation in a competitive process. Momentus expects to complete contract negotiations shortly. This selection underscores Momentus' commitment to pioneering innovative solutions for national defense.Under the SBIR project, Momentus plans to use a Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) system it has developed using internal R&D funds and use an optical sensor, infrared sensor, and a Lidar sensor. (Lidar is a remote-sensing technology that uses laser beams to measure distances and movement in an environment.)A flight demonstration in early 2026 is planned that will show the ability for low-cost RPO sensors to safely guide the approach and rendezvous of a space vehicle with a previously uncharacterized client object using machine vision algorithms and data fusion developed by Momentus. Reducing the cost while ensuring high operational safety for in-space rendezvous is a key enabling technology needed for the future of in-space refueling of satellites, manufacturing, assembly, servicing, and debris removal.The rendezvous sensor demonstration for AFWERX will join other payloads, including from the Department of Defense and commercial customers, on a mission that Momentus has contracted with SpaceX to join a Transporter rideshare launch in early 2026.For this mission, Momentus has additional capacity to support customers planning LEO deployment and hosted payload missions in early 2026. Government and commercial customers interested in utilizing the ability of the Vigoride vehicle to cost-effectively launch and deliver microsatellites up to 200 kg and cubesats, provide average power up to 1kW, and deploy or operate hosted payloads in orbits above 500 km and below the International Space Station are encouraged to contact Momentus while booking opportunities remain open at [email protected]
Momentus Inc. today announced it has been awarded a contract expansion by the U.S. Department of Defense organization, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to conduct an in-orbit demonstration of the assembly of large scale structures. The mission will launch on an upcoming SpaceX Transporter rideshare as soon as early 2026.For this upcoming mission, Momentus is under contract to provide full-service support to the DARPA Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass-efficient Design (NOM4D) program, including arranging launch services, payload integration, and in-orbit hosting of the payload for a complex in-space assembly mission. The in-space assembly will be conducted on the Momentus Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle. The purpose of this effort is to validate the functionality, performance, and reliability of the in-space assembly payload in the LEO space environment.Momentus was awarded the initial NOM4D contract in April 2024 and completed the first two phases of the contract. This latest contract award from DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office is for Phase 3 of the program valued at about $3.5M.The DARPA NOM4D program focuses on developing the foundations for building robust and precise structures in space. The vision is to transport raw materials from Earth for in-orbit manufacturing. Unlike deployable structures optimized for ground tests and launch survival, these structures—such as solar arrays, antennas, and optics—will be specifically designed for fabrication in the space environment.“We’re thrilled to be supporting DARPA on this cutting-edge program and are looking forward to this exciting demonstration of key enabling technologies for in-space assembly,” said Momentus Chief Executive Officer John Rood. “Cost-effective assembly of structures in space has the potential to transform how we operate in space. Structures that are too large to fit within the shroud of a launch vehicle can be robotically assembled in space, leading to less complex and cost-effective structures like large communications antennas, hubs for orbital manufacturing of advanced materials and potentially products like semi-conductors, and the repair and upgrade of space systems. This latest contract from DARPA builds on work Momentus has done to secure important contracts from NASA and the U.S. Space Development Agency in late 2024 to support missions in orbit to demonstrate new technology. Together, these contracts position the company well for future growth.”This mission marks Momentus’ fourth Vigoride mission and first mission supporting DARPA. For this mission, Momentus has additional capacity to support customers planning LEO deployment and hosted payload missions in early 2026.
Caltech’s demonstration, planned for February 2026, will showcase autonomous robotic construction in low-Earth orbit. The university has partnered with space transportation company Momentus to launch their experiment aboard a Vigoride orbital vehicle on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-16 mission.The demonstration will feature a “free-flying” autonomous system where a gantry robot will construct a 1.4-meter-diameter circular truss using lightweight composite fiber tubes. While not a functional antenna, the structure will serve as a proof-of-concept for future large-scale space-based communications infrastructure.
Momentus and Solstar will conduct the first on-orbit demonstration of Solstar’s Deke Space Communicator in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) on a mission that will be launched on an upcoming SpaceX Transporter rideshare as soon as early 2026. The Deke Space Communicator will provide on-demand Wi-Fi and narrowband Internet connectivity for Momentus and its customers.
Momentus Inc. has signed a contract with Portal Space Systems to provide hosted payload services for the company’s first on-orbit demonstration of its advanced flight computer technology.Momentus is committed to supporting the development and testing of next-generation space technology. Portal Space Systems emerged from stealth in April 2024, after its founding in 2021 by former SpaceX VP of Propulsion, Jeff Thornburg. This mission will validate the performance of Portal’s flight computer, avionics and flight software in the harsh conditions of space, where exposure to radiation, extreme temperatures, and vacuum presents significant operational challenges.Flight computing, power systems components and avionics systems are critical to satellite operations, enabling autonomous control for highly maneuverable spacecraft. The need for robust fail-safes and system redundancy is essential to ensuring mission success and operational reliability in these demanding environments.“In-space validation is the cornerstone of de-risking space systems, especially when you’re building a spacecraft like Supernova that has to think, act and react across transorbital domains,” said Jeff Thornburg, CEO and Co-Founder of Portal Space Systems. “This mission lets us iterate and advance faster, and we’re thrilled to be flying alongside some of the most ambitious payloads in space.”This payload will be among several mission-critical payloads Momentus will carry aboard its Vigoride 7 Orbital Service Vehicle, scheduled for launch no earlier than February 2026 on a SpaceX Transporter mission to Low Earth Orbit.
Portal Space Systems, developer of the Supernova transorbital spacecraft, announced today that it has signed a contract with Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) to deliver its first on-orbit technology demonstration in early 2026. This mission, launching aboard Momentus’ Vigoride 7 Orbital Service Vehicle on a SpaceX Transporter rideshare, will validate Portal’s next-generation spaceflight computer, avionics, and software suite in Low Earth orbit.By leveraging Momentus’ hosted payload services, Portal is accelerating its hardware readiness timeline and de-risking critical components ahead of the company’s target launch later in 2026. This test will validate the resilience and performance of Portal’s advanced spaceflight computer, avionics, and software suite which have been engineered to support autonomous sustained maneuvering and resilient operations in the challenging conditions of space.“In-space validation is the cornerstone of de-risking space systems, especially when you’re building a spacecraft like Supernova that has to think, act and react across transorbital domains,” said Jeff Thornburg, CEO and Co-Founder of Portal Space Systems. “This mission lets us iterate and advance faster, and we’re thrilled to be flying alongside some of the most ambitious payloads in space.”Portal’s payload will fly as one of several innovative payloads hosted on Momentus’ Vigoride 7, joining demonstrations from DARPA’s NOM4D program, AFWERX’s rendezvous sensing technologies, and Solstar Space’s Wi-Fi-enabled space communicator. This convergence of government and commercial tech development makes Vigoride 7 an important testbed for the next generation of orbital infrastructure.
Momentus Inc. today announced it has signed a $1.86M Direct to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract with SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force. The award supports the in-space flight demonstration of a novel, low-cost multi-spectral sensor suite for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), scheduled for early 2026.Under this contract, Momentus will demonstrate an internally developed RPO system equipped with optical, infrared, and lidar sensors. The technology integrates machine vision algorithms and advanced data fusion used to guide the safe and autonomous approach of a spacecraft to an uncharacterized object in low Earth orbit.[...]The flight demonstration will take place aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-16 rideshare mission scheduled for launch no earlier than February 2026, where Momentus will host the RPO payload on its Vigoride orbital service vehicle. The demonstration will be conducted alongside a group of commercial and Department of Defense customers.
Mini-Nova is integrated and ready for launch!Yesterday, Momentus announced the successful completion of environmental testing on its Vigoride-7 bus, which will carry Mini-Nova to orbit aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-16 in Q1 2026.This mission marks a key step for Portal: we will validate critical avionics and our flight computer on orbit ahead of our upcoming Supernova and Starburst missions.
Momentus Inc. announced today that the Company has delivered its Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV) to Vandenberg Space Force Base in California ahead of its launch on SpaceX’s upcoming Transporter‑16 rideshare mission, targeted for no earlier than late March 2026.The Vigoride OSV has been integrated with a launch plate that will be carried on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The priorities of this mission include hosting 10 payloads with a suite of cutting-edge demonstrations, including autonomous rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), in-space assembly, advanced communications and next-generation onboard computing technologies.[...]Background on Vigoride 7 Payloads: • SpaceWERX RPO Demo – Momentus was awarded a contract by SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force, under the Sustained Space Maneuver Challenge for the on-orbit demonstration of a low-cost multispectral rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) sensor suite. Momentus developed an onboard navigation system that the Company plans to demonstrate and test on orbit on the upcoming mission. This capability is designed to facilitate semi-autonomous RPO without prior knowledge of space client objects and for use with unprepared objects. Such capabilities are critical for refueling, close inspection, servicing, relocation, and formation flying of satellites and other assets, as well as debris removal. • DARPA NOM4D Program – Momentus plans to host and support the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA’s) Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials and Mass-efficient Design (NOM4D) payload, designed to validate in-space assembly of modular structures. Momentus is under contract to provide full-service support to the DARPA NOM4D program, including arranging launch services, payload integration, and on-orbit hosting of the payload for a complex in-space assembly mission. This effort is intended to validate the functionality, performance, and reliability of the in-space assembly payload in the LEO space environment. • NASA Space Act Agreement with Johnson Space Center -- Momentus plans to deliver a NASA CubeSat to low Earth orbit (LEO) to demonstrate joint rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) as well as formation flying. Central to the mission is NASA’s R5 Spacecraft 10 (R5-S10), which will act as a free-flying imager for Momentus’ Vigoride 7 Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV), assessing spacecraft health and performance. The R5-S10 technology demonstration mission is funded and managed by NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology (SST) program and the Engineering Directorate at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The SST program is based at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley and operates in the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. This demonstration marks a critical step in refining In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities—essential for future autonomous space operations. Additionally, inter-satellite link demonstrations using WiFi-based data transmission will enable the CubeSat to transfer large files to the Vigoride host platform. These files will be downlinked to the Momentus Operations Center and NASA Johnson, demonstrating the viability of real-time space communication for future missions. • Portal Space Systems, Inc.’s, Flight Computer Demo – In its first on-orbit mission, Portal plans to test its advanced spacecraft computing and avionics suite, designed to enable autonomous operations in high-radiation and thermally dynamic environments. The system supports Portal’s development of the Supernova platform for transorbital missions. • CisLunar Industries, Inc.’s Electric Power Processing Unit – Under a contract from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, Momentus plans to host a system made by CisLunar Industries that will test scalable power delivery architectures critical to high-thrust propulsion and in-space assembly applications.Orbit Fab, Inc.’s Podracer Infrared Imaging Suite – U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) – Momentus plans to host Orbit Fab’s payload to support development of low-cost, advanced capabilities to support real-time space domain awareness, threat detection, and remote orbital calibration experiments. • Solstar Space Company’s Deke Space Communicator – Momentus plans to host Solstar’s commercial always-on communications gateway designed to enable persistent payload connectivity and telemetry access. This innovative system is designed to enable narrowband communications between spacecraft and persistent space-to-ground communication, as well as Space Wi-Fi for proximity operations. • DPhi Space’s Clustergate-2 payload – DPhi, an innovator in artificial intelligence (AI) and data infrastructure technologies, has produced this payload that is designed to enable the deployment and operation of software payloads throughout the mission lifecycle, unlocking new opportunities for real-time and autonomous data processing from orbit. This partnership embodies a shared mission to make space experimentation more accessible. • 3D Printed Propellant Tank – Velo3D. The fuel tank, designed by Momentus and manufactured using Velo3D’s advanced metal 3D printing technology, represents a significant step forward in the adoption of additive manufacturing for mission-critical spacecraft components. By leveraging Velo3D’s fully integrated solution, Momentus designed and produced a tank with optimized features that would be difficult to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. Momentus plans to utilize this technology to serve new markets as a qualified supplier for space-rated fuel tanks that typically are high cost and require long lead times.
ExoTerra Courier 12U CubeSatExpected Launch NET Q1 2026Climb and Descend Between 600-800km
Additionally/Alternatively:• Candidate payload for ARC TechEdSat-14 (2026)• SSTP/JSC R5 Spacecraft • Scalable SWaP/Comm permits various missions of opportunity
the first flight of this detector payload is nominally planned for integration within a novel 12U spacecraft bus developed and funded in part by a NASA Tipping Point program. This spacecraft will primarily test a Xenon thruster system and host the detector payload in an exposed 2U forebody compartment as it performs orbital maneuvers out to 800km. The host spacecraft will provide power and radio communications for the payload, as well as attitude and altitude positional data. Such data will better enable radiation source identification. Integration of the payload is currently scheduled for late 2024, with launch provided by a Transporter mission shortly thereafter.
The “kilowatt-class” spacecraft will launch aboard a SpaceX Transporter mission scheduled for 2026.Once in orbit, the Aetherflux’s demonstrator will beam power back to Earth using an infrared laser with a spot size of 10 meters. The company says it will improve this capacity as it iterates upon its design.
Aetherflux is using Apex Space’s Aries satellite bus. A satellite bus is the core structure and system of a satellite that provides essential functions for its operation, like power, propulsion, and communications. Most buses generate power through solar panels, and Bhatt says that power — as much as a kilowatt of energy — will be sent back to Earth via lasers.
The company is working toward its first mission now, with the aim of sending up a demonstration spacecraft in the fourth quarter of 2025 or the first quarter of 2026.
Late last week, we rolled another Aries bus off the assembly line at Factory One in Los Angeles. Have a watch below to see Aetherflux take delivery of their Aries platform, which will fly their first optical power beaming demo next year.🌎
The partnership will see OCULLOSPACE’s unique "Elephant Juice" mission take flight aboard their DECIMAL-SAT1 1P PocketQube, launched via Alba Orbital’s upcoming Q1 2026 SpaceX mission. .[...]The "Elephant Juice" mission is designed to immortalise DNA-encoded messages in space. The DECIMAL-SAT1 satellite will host a DNA storage payload developed in collaboration with BioSistemika and XexiconSat.‘DNA encoding is an advanced method of information storage, where your message is encoded into a DNA sequence, embedding it within the fundamental building blocks of life. This innovative process leverages the unique characteristics of DNA to create a highly secure, irreversible form of data preservation, ensuring that your message is safeguarded in its most enduring and intimate form.’ - Elephant JuiceThe mission draws inspiration from the 1977 Voyager mission, looking to bring that missions legacy to the modern age. ‘Over four decades ago, the Voyager spacecraft left Earth carrying the Golden Record... It encapsulated the very essence of who we are – our music, sounds of nature, greetings in 55 languages, and much more. Voyager’s journey to the stars symbolized a hopeful message, an eternal connection between humanity and the universe. Elephant Juice builds on this legacy by allowing you to send a message of love that mirrors the Golden Record’s journey’ - Elephant Juice OCULLOSPACE’s Elephant Juice mission is also designed to inspire future generations. Participation helps fund NGOs that are aimed at helping children reach their full potential. The satellite will be deployed into low Earth orbit using Alba Orbital’s own AlbaPod deployer, the world's most flight-proven PocketQube deployer. This reinforces the company’s mission to make space more accessible than ever before.
At the heart of this collaboration is the Decimal-Sat1 Mission, a 1P PocketQube nanosatellite scheduled for launch in Q1 2026, with primary and secondary missions focused on DNA-encoded data transmission, solar sensor research, and radio digipeater functionality.
Satellite Name: Streamlined Assembled Learning ExperimentMission: Rapid and affordable design, testing, and integration of a 3U CubeSatSAL-E is named after Astronaut Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in Space and an inspiration for women and the LGBTQ+ community. The objectives of this mission are to evaluate CPCL’s capability of designing, manufacturing, and testing a CubeSat while simultaneously providing a project management basis for future CPCL flight missions. SAL-E will launch on Transporter 16 in Q1, 2026.
SAL-E is a 3U CubeSat with a custom chip designed to investigate the effects of single-event upsets in LEO. It is projected to launch with a record timeline in 2025 and in partnership with Maverick Space Systems.
Dimensions: 100 mm x 100 mm x 340 mmMass: < 7 kg
Next stop handoff! Just under 2 years after our first PDR our team completed external FRR for the SAL-E mission earlier today!
This voluntary project consists entirely of students (CubeSat Lab) at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Its primary objective is to learn by doing and self-training. Students are learning about satellites and space communication by designing, building, testing, integrating, and operating a 3U CubeSat. [...]Now planning a launch NET 9/26 on Transporter 16 launch
Within a year of its conception, SAL-E completed its Critical Design Review (CDR on June 1, 2024). Following CDR, the SAL-E team entered the Fabrication, Assembly, and Integration phase, emphasizing assembly of the engineering test unit for the satellite and conducting environmental testing, including vibrations and TVAC tests. Following these milestones, the team began assembly and testing of the Flight Unit (FU) in preparation for the Test Readiness Review (TRR) on August 4, 2025, which initiated FU environmental testing and validated the satellite’s design and configuration. After TRR, the team moved toward the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) and delivery to Maverick Space Systems for launch integration. This final phase verified system-level performance and compliance with all launch, payload, and mission requirements. Following a successful FRR on October 18, 2025, SAL-E began preparations for integration and its upcoming launch. With an expected launch in February 2026, the mission highlights CPCL’s ability to execute rapid, streamlined development while maintaining rigorous engineering standards.
SAL-E is one step closer to launch!! Last week, our team integrated SAL-E into its deployer at Maverick Space Systems ahead of its launch on Transporter 16 (and a got to work with lab alum during integration)Huge thank you to our incredible mission leads, lab members, advisors, and the Maverick team for making this milestone possible!
Observations of a common space-based reference has the potential for reducing the uncertainty in the local-ties tothe mm level thus improving the ITRF combinationNASA GRITSS Demonstration Mission targeting launch in February 2026
The Geodetic Reference Instrument Transponder for Small Satellites (GRITSS) mission aims to put a 12UXL cubesat into space, demonstrating an improvement in the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) by accurately correlating signals from collocated stations (Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)). The technology demonstrated with the GRITSS instrument will enable future enhanced ocean, ice, and land topography missions.The GRITSS mission will develop and test an advanced payload system. This system includes a 10 MHz Reference Module (Ultra-stable Oscillator), NavCube 3 Mini (NC3m) GPS receiver, S-Band Transmitter, X-TTSN X-band Transmitter, and a Laser Retroreflector. ISISPACE will construct the 12UXL CubeSat and provide mission design, payload integration, launch services, spacecraft registration, commissioning, and one year of nominal operations in collaboration with the GRITSS team.Launch Date: 2026Launch Vehicle: SpaceX
Jointly developed by the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and NASA GSFCNominal operations: 1 year (extendable)Orbit: 550km sun synchronous, Nadir pointing
Launching in FY26The Geodetic Reference Instrument Transponder for Small Satellites (GRITSS) will verify a new geodetic measurement concept on a 16-unit CubeSat. Functioning as a GNSS L-to-S-and-X-band transponder, GRITSS could pave the way for a more cost-effective mission, employing a constellation of spacecraft for better global coverage and improved accuracy.
The ACMES mission will launch in early 2026 to a high-inclination SSO orbit at 550 km and will serve a one-year primary mission to demonstrate the various novel technologies, followed by up to three years of scientific operations.
Launching in FY26Also a 16-unit CubeSat, the Active Cooling for Methane Sensor (ACMES) instrument will prototype a novel system for observing methane gas. ACMES will advance two technologies: first, Active Thermal Architectures (ATA), a complete end-to-end solution for active thermal control of cryogenic instruments on nano and small satellites; second, the Filter Incidence Narrow-band Infrared Spectrometer (FINIS), a sensor designed for space-based detection of methane sources.
ACMES will [launch from] June to October 2025 to a ~550 km SSO orbit and serve a one-year technology demonstration mission by an extended mission to collect valuable scientific grade data for the Earth science community.[...]ACMES is scheduled to launch in mid-2025 on a Space-X Falcon transporter to a high-inclination, near sun-synchronous, polar orbit (>85o, SS LTAN 10:00 to 14:00). ACMES will maintain a circular ~550 km orbit for a minimum of one year to complete commissioning and demonstrate the various technologies and instruments on board.
ACMESAlso a 16-unit CubeSat, the Active Cooling for Multispectral Sensor (ACMES) instrument will prototype a complete end-to-end solution for active thermal control of cryogenic instruments on nano- and small-satellites, using the previously developed Hyperspectral Thermal Imager (HyTI) as its test instrument. ACMES will also fly two student projects: the Filter Incidence Narrow-band Infrared Spectrometer (FINIS); and the Planer Langmuir/Impedance Diagnostic (PLAID).
