NASA launched four flying saucer-shaped spacecraft into orbit on Thursday.
The space agency says the UFO lookalikes are new tech that might "expand access to space."
Called DiskSat, the plate-shaped spacecraft could offer more power and surface area for instruments and provide more opportunities for NASA to expand mission objectives for small spacecraft.
Suitable for very low Earth orbit missions, the platform enables high-power tech demos, sharp Earth imaging, low-latency comms, and rapid deorbiting.
(NASA Ames via SWNS)
By Talker
The demonstration mission sees the test spaceships – each around 1 meter wide and 2.5 centimeters thick – launched into low orbit.
The spaceship's dimensions can be increased or decreased to match the size of a launch vehicle.
For launch, many DiskSats can be stacked to fit within a launch vehicle’s fairing to quickly release a group of satellites in orbit.
With its ability to fly continuously with one face pointing at the Earth, the DiskSat spacecraft can also have a very low drag, making them capable of low altitude missions, less than 185 miles, such as those necessary for precise Earth observation.
(NASA Ames via SWNS)
By Talker
NASA explains: "The demonstration will showcase DiskSat’s manoeuvrability. The DiskSats in this technology demonstration have electric propulsion for orbit changing and orbit maintenance.
"After initially deploying all four satellites at the same altitude, one or more satellites will maneuver to lower altitudes.
"Part of the demonstration mission will test the DiskSat platform’s maneuverability to include flying in the very low Earth orbit environment."
Rocket Lab's Electron rocket carrying the four DiskSats launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia.
The mission, named "Don’t Be Such A Square," lifted off successfully to deploy the spacecraft to a 550 km low Earth orbit.
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