NASA has selected Rocket Lab USA Inc. to launch its Aspera mission, a SmallSat designed to study galaxy formation and evolution. The mission aims to provide new insights into how the universe works. The launch is targeted for no earlier than the first quarter of 2026, utilizing Rocket Lab's Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1.
Aspera, a 60-kilogram satellite, will use an ultraviolet telescope to observe hot gases in the intergalactic medium. These observations will help astronomers understand the inflow and outflow of gas from galaxies, a process thought to contribute to star formation. Carlos Vargas of the University of Arizona is the principal investigator.
The launch contract was awarded under NASA's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) program. This contract allows NASA to issue fixed-price task orders for launch services. Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck expressed enthusiasm for supporting the Aspera mission, highlighting Electron's reliability and accuracy in orbital deployment.
Aspera is part of NASA's Pioneers Program in the Astrophysics Division, which funds compelling astrophysics science at a lower cost. The mission marks NASA's first astrophysics endeavor to gather and map ultraviolet light signatures, potentially unlocking a deeper understanding of the origins of stars, planets, and life.