ASCENT

ASCENT
ASCENT
Spacecraft name ASCENT
Spacecraft type CubeSat
Units or mass 12U
Status Operational (Official news on 2022-04-28)
Launched 2021-12-07
NORAD ID 51287
Deployer ?
Launcher Atlas V (LDPE-1)
Deployment Deployed from LDPE-1 on 2022-01-31
Entity name Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
Institution Military
Entity type Government (Civil / Military)
Country US
Manufacturer AIVT by Blue Canyon
Oneliner

Demonstrate various CubeSat operations in geostationary orbit (GEO). AFRL will provide and integrate the ASCENT payload.

Description

Demonstrate various CubeSat operations in geostationary orbit (GEO). AFRL will provide and integrate the ASCENT payload.

Blue Canyon provided the 12U CubeSat bus, avionics, flight software, Guidance Navigation and Control actuators and sensors, batteries, solar panels, solar array drives, two propulsion systems, and RF communication hardware. BCT was on-site during commissioning and ensured the spacecraft was in a safe, stable power and thermal attitude before releasing operations to the lab to complete the mission objectives.

The Ascent mission is evaluating the performance of commercial-off-the-shelf technology and capabilities in the GEO space environment, only previously seen in LEO flight experiments. Ascent comprises several demonstrations that include flying two propulsion systems and the first GEO application of the Georgia Tech cold gas propulsion system to provide momentum management. BCT contacted the spacecraft on the first acquisition and continues to support on-orbit questions as needed.

Sources [1] [2] [3]
Photo sources [1] [2]
COTS subsystems
  • PLATFORM - Blue Canyon
Subsystems sources [1]
Keywords GTO or GEO orbit, Propulsion

Last modified: 2023-06-09

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