Aspera (spacecraft)

Aspera
Mission typeUV Astronomy
OperatorNASA
Websitehttps://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/programs/astrophysics-pioneers/
Start of mission
Launch date29 January 2027 (planned)
RocketElectron
ContractorRocket Lab
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeSun-synchronous orbit[citation needed]

Aspera is a NASA small satellite astrophysical mission selected in 2020 as part of the Astrophysics Pioneers Program. The mission is designed to map diffuse extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) emission from hot gas in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) and intergalactic medium (IGM) of nearby galaxies by detecting the O VI doublet at 103.2 and 103.8 nm.

Launch

NASA awarded the launch to Rocket Lab in May 2025 under the Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) contract. Aspera will be launched on an Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. As of August 2026, the launch is expected in January 2027.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Astrophysics Pioneers - NASA Science". 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  2. ↑ "U of A-led NASA Aspera mission hits spacecraft milestone | Steward Observatory". astro.arizona.edu. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  3. ↑ "Aspera". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  4. ↑ "Aspera". heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  5. ↑ "Aspera - SFL Missions - low-cost high-performance satellites : SFL Missions – low-cost high-performance satellites". 2025-07-10. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  6. ↑ "Aspera | Electron/Curie | Next Spaceflight". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  7. ↑ "Rocket Lab to launch NASA astrophysics smallsat mission". Space News. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  8. ↑ "Rocket Lab to Launch NASA Astrophysics Science Mission on Electron to Study Galaxy Evolution". Archived from the original on 2025-06-14. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  9. ↑ "Space Missions | Steward Observatory". astro.arizona.edu. Retrieved 2026-08-30.
  10. ↑ "Aspera | Electron/Curie | Next Spaceflight". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2026-08-30.