tech
These are the flying discs the government wants you to know about
DiskSat’s design offers “a power-to-weight ratio unmatched by traditional aluminum satellites.”
TL;DR
- Four DiskSats were launched into orbit from Virginia on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket.
- The mission is a government-funded technology demonstration for a new spacecraft design.
- DiskSats are flat, disc-shaped satellites designed by the Aerospace Corporation.
- The project is jointly financed by NASA and the US Space Force.
- DiskSats offer more surface area than CubeSats, allowing for greater power generation and payload capacity.
- The mission will test the DiskSat platform's performance, functionality, and maneuverability in low-Earth orbit.
- DiskSats could be useful for missions requiring large antennas or high-bandwidth communications.
- The Aerospace Corporation plans to transfer the DiskSat technology to industry partners.
- DiskSats are easier to pack for launch than CubeSats and have a scalable design.