RTX Provides Blue Canyon Satellites for NASA Swarm Test Launch
August 15, 2023 | RTXEstimated reading time: 1 minute
RTX's small-satellite manufacturer and mission services provider Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT), announces successful launch and initial contact with CubeSats for the NASA Starling mission, a technology demonstration aimed at proving the success of cooperative groups of spacecraft operating in an autonomous, synchronous manner or "swarm."
BCT provided four 6U CubeSats to NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology program which is managed by NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley for the agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate. The Starling mission is advancing the readiness of various technologies for cooperative groups of spacecraft by demonstrating technologies to enable multipoint science data collection by several small spacecraft flying together. The six-month mission will specifically test onboard swarm maneuver planning and execution, communications networking, relative navigation, and autonomous coordination between satellites.
"We continue to push the boundaries of what's possible," said John Carvo, Executive Director of CubeSats at BCT. "By providing heritage hardware for a demonstration such as this, we're continually optimizing low-costs and quick turns for small constellation programs."
The satellites will be positioned in a nearly sun-synchronous, low-Earth orbit, with all four spacecraft actively engaged in the experiment.
BCT delivered the first satellite for the mission in 2021. In addition to manufacturing the satellites, BCT is providing operations support for the Starling mission, named after the bird famous for flying in a synchronous or "swarm" formation. Work on this program was performed in Lafayette, Colorado.
Suggested Items
IDTechEx Report on Quantum Technology: Nano-scale Physics for Massive Market Impact
04/30/2024 | PRNewswireThe quantum technology market leverages nano-scale physics to create revolutionary new devices for computing, sensing, and communications. Across the industry, quantum technology offers a paradigm shift in performance compared with incumbent solutions.
TSMC Certifies Ansys Multiphysics Platforms, Enabling Next-Gen AI and HPC Chips
04/30/2024 | PRNewswireAnsys announced the certification of its power integrity platforms for TSMC's N2 technology full production release. Both Ansys RedHawk-SC and Ansys Totem are certified for power integrity signoff on the N2 process, delivering significant speed and power advantages for high performance computing, mobile chips, and 3D-IC designs.
Koh Young Extends Invitation to the 2024 IEEE Electronic Components and Technology Conference
04/30/2024 | Koh YoungKoh Young, the industry leader in True3D measurement-based inspection solutions, invites you to join us at the at the 2024 IEEE Electronic Components and Technology Conference from May 28-31, 2024, in Denver, Colorado at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center.
Samsung Electronics Begins Industry’s First Mass Production of 9th-Gen V-NAND
04/29/2024 | Samsung ElectronicsSamsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced that it has begun mass production for its one-terabit (Tb) triple-level cell (TLC) 9th-generation vertical NAND (V-NAND), solidifying its leadership in the NAND flash market.
TSMC Celebrates 30th North America Technology Symposium
04/29/2024 | TSMCTSMC unveiled its newest semiconductor process, advanced packaging, and 3D IC technologies for powering the next generation of AI innovations with silicon leadership at the Company’s 2024 North America Technology Symposium.