SkyFire (spacecraft)
SkyFire is a planned nanosatellite spacecraft that will fly by the Moon and collect surface spectroscopy and thermography. It is planned to fly on the Space Launch System.Mission
Its purpose is that of a Geosynchronous Earth Orbit technology demonstration using a low-cost 6U CubeSat spacecraft. SkyFire will perform a lunar flyby, collecting spectroscopy and thermography for surface characterization, remote sensing, and site selection. The spacecraft includes two deployable solar arrays and will have a total mass of about.
SkyFire was selected in April 2015 by NASA's NextSTEP program and awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin Space systems worth $1.4 million for further development.Launch
SkyFire will fly along other 12 CubeSats as a secondary payload mission on the maiden flight of the Space Launch System.Propulsion
SkyFire will also demonstrate a low thrust electric propulsion technology called electrospray propulsion to lower the spacecraft's orbit for additional science and technology mission objectives.
