Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) has finished building the satellite bus for NASA’s Aspera mission. This small spacecraft will soon be joined with a far-ultraviolet telescope designed by the University of Arizona. Final integration and testing will happen at SFL’s facility in Toronto later this year. Launch is expected in early 2026.

Unlocking the Secrets of Galaxy Formation

Aspera is a science mission designed to explore how galaxies are born and change over time. It will study a halo of gas that surrounds galaxies, known as the circumgalactic medium. The project is led by the University of Arizona’s Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory, with funding from NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers Program.

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High-Tech Satellite Built For Precision

Dr. Robert E. Zee, Director of SFL, said, “SFL is proud to play a role in such a challenging space astrophysics mission that will enhance our understanding of how the universe formed.” He explained that the satellite uses SFL’s 60-kilogram DEFIANT platform.

The mission’s name, “Aspera,” comes from Latin, meaning “difficulty” or “hardship.” This reflects how tough it has been to observe the hot gases that make up the circumgalactic medium. Aspera could be the first to capture them successfully.

Looking For The Universe’s Missing Matter

Prof. Carlos J. Vargas, the mission’s lead scientist, said, “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. 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.”

Precision Pointing Makes The Mission Possible

A major reason SFL was chosen to build the satellite is its ability to provide extremely stable pointing for the onboard telescope. This is critical for the success of Aspera. SFL is known for its advanced attitude control systems that allow small satellites to carry out complex scientific tasks.

These systems have already been proven in space missions focused on astrophysics, Earth imaging, signal detection, and atmospheric science.

Small Satellites, Big Science

According to Prof. Vargas, the mission would have been too expensive using 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,” he said. “Our partnership with SFL makes that possible.”