GRITSS Spacecraft

GRITSS
GRITSS
GRITSS
GRITSS
Spacecraft name GRITSS (Geodetic Reference Instrument Transponder for Small Satellites)
Form factor CubeSat
Units or mass 12U
Status Operational? (No clear news found as of 2026-07-31)
Launched 2026-07-07
NORAD ID ?
Deployer Equalizer Flex [SEOPS]
Launcher Falcon 9 (Transporter-17)
Entity name University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMAss Lowell, UML)
Institution University
Entity type Academic / Education
Nation (HQ) US
Nation (AIT) Netherlands
Manufacturer AIVT by ISISpace
Operator ISISpace
Partners NASA
Oneliner

Demonstrate an improvement in the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) by accurately correlating signals from collocated stations.

Description

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.

Sources [1] [2] [3]
Photo sources [1] [2] [3]
On the same launch

Last modified: 2026-08-01

Feel free to connect at any time.

Created by Erik Kulu

Email: erik.kulu@nanosats.eu
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erikkulu

Social Platforms

LinkedIn: Nanosats
Twitter: @nanosatellites

Sister Websites

NewSpace Index: newspace.im
Factories in Space: factoriesinspace.com

Copyright © 2014 - 2026 Erik Kulu