“Don’t be such a square”: Experimental ‘DiskSats’ could provide new opportunities for NASA missions

Putting satellites into orbit used to be something that only governments, or companies with deep pockets, could afford to do. However, with the development of small satellites like CubeSats the price has come down dramatically.

This is because they can be containerized, lots of them packed into a single standard box, and piggyback into space along with other payloads. Furthermore, several of the components, like those for communication and navigation, are now mass produced and can be purchased off the shelf.

However, CubeSats have limitations from their small surface area which restricts their capacity to generate power from solar panels and space for antennas and scientific instruments. NASA hopes to solve this problem while maintaining the benefits of containerization and low-cost components with a new experimental ‘DiskSat’, with the first demonstration models sent into orbit on early Thursday morning.

“Don’t Be Such a Square” Rocket Lab launch takes four DiskSats into orbit

Just under an hour after a 12:03 am launch on Thursday morning, four experimental DiskSats, developed by The Aerospace Corporation with funding help from NASA, were successfully carried to an altitude of 342 miles (550 km) above the Earth aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket. This demonstration mission is designed to “verify the performance of this new small spacecraft platform and demonstrate the launch dispenser mechanism,” said NASA in a press release.

Additionally, the agency “will showcase DiskSat’s maneuverability,” during this inaugural mission. The DiskSat has an electric propulsion system which allows for more precise orbit maneuvering.

“Missions needing continuous thrust for precise orbit maintenance, orbit raising or lowering, de-orbiting at mission end-of-life, and/or the ability to propel themselves from Earth orbit to lunar orbit are all good candidates for DiskSat missions,” explains NASA.

DiskSats’ shape has several benefits

The flat disk shape of these small satellites has several benefits like making it easier to assemble, access components, and then test everything works as it should.

Furthermore, it allows the spacecraft to always keep one side facing the Earth and have reduced drag. The latter feature should enable the satellite to orbit at an altitude of less than 185 miles (300 kilometers), a distance which is necessary for precise Earth observations.

The size of the demonstration DiskSats is 40 inches (102 cm) by 1 inch (2.5 cm), about the size of a manhole cover. But, the dimensions can be made larger or smaller to adapt to those of the launch vehicle without having to change the deployment system.

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