Ramona Adams
Maxar Technologies‘ SSL subsidiary will collaborate with a team at NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Michigan to carry out a space mission to study the sun.
SSL said Monday the Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment aims to launch a small satellite constellation designed to explore how solar energetic particles are accelerated and emitted into interplanetary space.
The company will contribute its Payload Orbital Delivery System technology to deploy the small satellites beyond geosynchronous orbit through ride sharing.
Richard White, president of SSL’s government systems arm, said the SunRISE mission will leverage the company’s regular satellite launches “that often have room for hosted payloads and small rideshare payloads.”
White added that SSL’s PODS system offers flight opportunities for space missions with limited funds.
SSL developed PODS in partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in an effort to provide access to space beyond low Earth orbit for the small payloads of commercial, government and scientific missions.
