tech
December 19, 2025
These are the flying discs the government wants you to know about
DiskSat’s design offers “a power-to-weight ratio unmatched by traditional aluminum satellites.”
TL;DR
- Four DiskSats were launched into orbit on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility.
- The mission is a technology demonstration to test the performance of the new DiskSat spacecraft design.
- DiskSats are flat, disc-shaped satellites designed for optimizing rideshare launches and offer increased surface area for payloads and power generation compared to CubeSats.
- The project is jointly financed by NASA and the US Space Force.
- Engineers are testing the DiskSat platform's functionality, including its maneuverability and ability to operate at lower altitudes with minimal aerodynamic drag.
- The Aerospace Corporation, a nonprofit research center, intends to license the DiskSat technology to industry partners.
- DiskSats have advantages in power-to-weight ratio and offer a scalable design for potential future constellations.
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