The VADR program partners NASA with industry leaders such as ABL Space Systems, Astra Space Inc., Blue Origin Florida, LLC, Firefly Space Transport Services, L2 Solutions (operating as SEOPS, LLC), Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Phantom Space Corporation, Relativity Space Inc., Rocket Lab USA Inc., SpaceX, and United Launch Services LLC. These collaborations aim to enhance NASA's ability to launch a variety of payloads, especially focusing on small satellites like CubeSats.

CubeSats, a class of nanosatellites that adhere to a standard size and form factor, are a pivotal aspect of NASA's current space exploration strategy. Their standardized design, typically weighing less than 2 kilograms per unit, allows for efficient and cost-effective launch arrangements. These small yet capable satellites are revolutionizing space science by enabling a wide range of missions, from Earth observation to advanced technological demonstrations.

Recent awards under the VADR contract underscore NASA's commitment to leveraging commercial spaceflight opportunities. L2 Solutions, for instance, secured a task order to launch two 6U CubeSats for NASA's Ames Research Center. These CubeSats, named PTD-4 and PTD-R, are part of the Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) series. Their mission is to test novel CubeSat technologies in low Earth orbit, potentially enhancing the performance and capabilities of these compact spacecraft for future science and exploration missions.

SpaceX, a key player in the commercial space sector, has received multiple task orders under the VADR contract. One such order is for the launch of Dione, a 6U CubeSat from NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center. Dione's mission, a collaboration with several universities, is to study how Earth's ionosphere and thermosphere respond to various energy inputs. This research, funded by NASA's Science Mission Directorate Heliophysics Division, is set to launch no earlier than mid-2024.

Another SpaceX task order involves launching ARCSTONE, a 6U CubeSat developed at NASA's Langley Research Center. ARCSTONE will carry a spectrometer to low Earth orbit to establish a lunar calibration standard, improving weather and climate sensors on Earth. Its launch is targeted for no earlier than mid-2025.

Additionally, NASA has selected SpaceX for the launch of TSIS-2 (Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2). Unlike its predecessor TSIS-1, which operates from the International Space Station, TSIS-2 will be on a free-flying spacecraft, managed by NASA Goddard with instruments from the University of Colorado, Boulder. TSIS-2 is dedicated to measuring the Sun's energy input to Earth, continuing a data record that dates back to 1978.

These initiatives, part of NASA's broader efforts to foster the development of the U.S. commercial launch market, illustrate the agency's strategy of utilizing commercial best practices and lower levels of mission assurance to achieve more flexible and cost-effective space missions. By embracing the potential of CubeSats and the capabilities of commercial partners, NASA is paving the way for a new era of space exploration and research, where access to space is more attainable than ever.

VADR Industy Partners
+ ABL Space Systems of El Segundo, California
+ Astra Space Inc. of Alameda, California
+ Blue Origin Florida, LLC of Merritt Island, Florida
+ Firefly Space Transport Services of Cedar Park, Texas
+ L2 Solutions DBA SEOPS, LLC of Houston, Texas
+ Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation of Chandler, Arizona
+ Phantom Space Corporation of Tucson, Arizona
+ Relativity Space Inc. of Long Beach, California
+ Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Long Beach, California
+ SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.) of Hawthorne, California
+ United Launch Services LLC of Centennial, Colorado

Related Links
CubeSat Launch Initiative
Microsat News and Nanosat News at SpaceMart.com