After launch, AuroraSat-1 will conduct a rigorous test campaign to qualify the thrusters, and Plasma Brake deployment and longitudinal operations.
Aurora Propulsion Technologies has announced its first In-Orbit-Demonstration (IOD) launch of the AuroraSat-1 satellite which is scheduled to take place on January 14, 2021.
The satellite is scheduled to launch onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, from Vandenberg AFB in California. After launch, it will be carried to its 550 km high sun-synchronous orbit by Momentus Vigoride orbit insertion vehicle.
Based in Espoo, Finland, Aurora Propulsion Technologies specialises in creating scalable solutions and services for the small spacecraft movement and lifecycle control.
The AuroraSat-1 mission is a CubeSat demonstration mission which will provide proof of concept and flight experience for the companys attitude and orientation control module.
In addition, the satellite will demonstrate and validate Aurora Propulsion Technologies Plasma Brake technology for satellite de-orbiting. De-orbiting is necessary for maintaining low orbits clean and safe from the risk of satellite collision with space debris, such as decommissioned satellites.
The AuroraSat-1 development was completed for delivery to the launch provider in just six months.
Commenting on the planned launch, Roope Takala CEO of Aurora Propulsion Technologies said: I am so proud of the Aurora Propulsion Technologies Engineering team, who managed to pull off this incredible feat of a satellite with three payloads in such a record-breaking time. I am also happy that the fast design and build did not compromise the high-quality standards we have for our products. The well thought out the design of the system enabled us to overcome the schedule constraints and the engineering challenges in the process.”
The satellite was built together with Satrevolution, who built the satellite structures and bus and Aurora focussing on the payloads. After launch, AuroraSat-1 will conduct a rigorous test campaign to qualify the thrusters, and Plasma Brake deployment and longitudinal operations.
