Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) announces key milestone in development of Aspera Space Astronomy Microsatellite Mission

Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) has completed assembly of the Aspera space astrophysics microsatellite bus. The spacecraft is ready for integration with the far-UV Aspera telescope being built by the University of Arizona. SFL will perform instrument-spacecraft integration and testing at its Toronto facility later this year with launch slated for early 2026.

Aspera is a bold NASA astrophysics mission that seeks to understand the formation and evolution of galaxies through far-UV observations of the matter surrounding those galaxies, known as the ‘circumgalactic medium’. The mission is managed by the University of Arizona’s Department of Astronomy & Steward Observatory with funding from the NASA Astrophysics Pioneers Program.

“SFL is proud to play a role in such a challenging space astrophysics mission that will enhance our understanding of how the universe formed,” said SFL Director Dr. Robert E. Zee. “We have developed Aspera on our 60-kg DEFIANT microsatellite platform.”

The Aspera mission derives its name from the Latin word for ‘difficulty’ or ‘hardship’ because astronomers have never been able to successfully observe the hot gasses that compose the circumgalactic medium. Aspera could be the first to do so.

“We know there must be some amount of matter in the universe…we’ve looked for it and still can’t find most of it. It’s likely in this circumgalactic medium,” said Prof. Carlos J. Vargas, University of Arizona Astronomer and Aspera Principal Investigator. “Why do we care about that? Because every star that has formed, every planet that’s formed, and all life on those planets must come from matter somewhere.”

A key aspect to the technical success of Aspera – and the reason SFL was selected for spacecraft development – is the importance of very precise pointing of the onboard telescope.

SFL is the acknowledged leader in the development of extremely stable small satellite platforms due to the advanced attitude control systems it has developed and refined for pointing of sensors on low-mass spacecraft. SFL has successfully leveraged this technology in missions for space astrophysics, Earth observation, RF signal detection, and atmospheric monitoring.

Vargas credits the small satellite revolution for making the Aspera mission possible. Just 10 years ago, he said, such a space astrophysics mission would not have been financially viable with traditional satellites.

“Big science can now be done on small platforms, and the University of Arizona and Steward Observatory are big players in the SmallSat revolution.” said Vargas. “Our partnership with SFL makes that possible.”