NASA launches tech demo to make spacecraft cheaper to design
On November 28 at 6:44 PM UTC, NASA launched the R5-S7 (Realizing Rapid, Reduced-cost high-Risk Research project Spacecraft 7). The CubeSat launched on a commercial rideshare mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
R5-S7 is part of the R5 series of CubeSats. It is built using commercial off-the-shelf parts and less expensive subsystems. It also follows shorter development timelines.
R5-S7’s programming includes a special proximity operations maneuver — the first-ever R5 satellite to try this. The proximity operations maneuver is basically a controlled movement near another object. It is programmed to happen immediately after R5-S7 leaves the launch vehicle. The maneuver is an important ability for future tasks like inspecting, repairing, and building things in orbit.
Generally, with the R5 series, NASA aims to show that spacecraft design can be more affordable and the timeline for building them can be reduced from years to months. R5-S7 was launched alongside three other NASA-funded CubeSats. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket also carried several other satellites during this launch. They were all launched as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-15 rideshare mission.
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