NASA-supported small spacecraft and commercial payloads were being prepared for launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on 1 October 2026. The missions will test propulsion, study galactic dust and radiation, and improve inspection of inactive satellites.
01Summary
- 01Three NASA-supported small spacecraft were shown before being encapsulated in a SpaceX Falcon 9.
- 02The launch is set for 1 October 2026.
- 03The spacecraft are ASCENT, SPRITE and SSPICY.
- 04ASCENT and SSPICY will demonstrate propulsion technologies, while SPRITE will study how galactic dust and high-energy radiation move through galaxies.
- 05SSPICY will also advance capabilities for inspecting inactive satellites.
02Why it matters
The launch will test technology that could improve future small spacecraft missions and satellite operations. It also adds to scientific understanding of how matter and radiation move through galaxies.
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