GRITSS Spacecraft - Nanosats Database

Spacecraft	GRITSS (Geodetic Reference Instrument Transponder for Small Satellites)
Form factor	CubeSat
Units or mass	12U
Status	not launched, expected in 2026
Launcher	Falcon 9, (Transporter-16)
Organisation	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
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]
Photo sources	[1]

Last modified: 2026-01-01