# IOD-1 GEMS > CubeSat developed by Orbital Micro Systems **Wikidata**: [Q65552593](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q65552593) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/iod-1-gems ## Summary IOD‑1 GEMS is a CubeSat built by Orbital Micro Systems that was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Cygnus NG‑11 cargo spacecraft on 17 April 2019. After arriving at the ISS, the satellite was deployed on 3 July 2019 as part of NanoRacks CubeSat Deployment Mission 16, using the standard 10‑cm‑sided CubeSat form factor. ## Key Facts - **Type:** CubeSat (standard 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm unit) – instance of the CubeSat class. - **Developer / Manufacturer / Operator:** Orbital Micro Systems. - **Launch date:** 17 April 2019 (Antares rocket, launch contractor Orbital Sciences Corporation). - **Launch vehicle:** Antares, launched from Mid‑Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0. - **Launch vehicle payload:** Cygnus NG‑11 cargo spacecraft (part of the ISS NanoRacks CubeSat Deployment Mission 16). - **Deployment date (orbit insertion):** 3 July 2019 from the International Space Station. - **Mission purpose:** Demonstration and technology‑validation satellite deployed via NanoRacks’ external deployer. - **Image reference:** ![IOD‑1 GEMS in NanoRacks deployer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Iss060e001618_NanoRack_CubeSat_Deployer.jpg) ## FAQs ### Q: What is IOD‑1 GEMS? A: IOD‑1 GEMS is a miniature CubeSat created by Orbital Micro Systems, launched to the ISS in April 2019 and later deployed into orbit in July 2019 as part of a NanoRacks CubeSat deployment mission. ### Q: When and how was IOD‑1 GEMS launched? A: The satellite rode aboard the Cygnus NG‑11 cargo vehicle, which was launched on an Antares rocket from Mid‑Atlantic Regional Spaceport on 17 April 2019. ### Q: Who built and operates IOD‑1 GEMS? A: Orbital Micro Systems designed, manufactured, and operates the IOD‑1 GEMS CubeSat. ### Q: What mission deployed IOD‑1 GEMS from the ISS? A: It was released during NanoRacks CubeSat Deployment Mission 16 on 3 July 2019, using the NanoRacks external deployer attached to the station. ### Q: What class of satellite does IOD‑1 GEMS belong to? A: It belongs to the CubeSat class, a standardized mini‑satellite format built from 10 cm‑sided cubic units. ## Why It Matters IOD‑1 GEMS exemplifies the growing utility of small‑satellite platforms for rapid, low‑cost space experimentation. By leveraging the established CubeSat standard, Orbital Micro Systems could develop a functional payload on a tight schedule and budget, then ride a commercial cargo mission (Cygnus NG‑11) to the ISS. The subsequent deployment via NanoRacks demonstrates a flexible, reusable pathway for delivering research and technology‑demonstration missions to low‑Earth orbit without requiring dedicated launch services. This model reduces barriers for academic, commercial, and governmental entities seeking to test sensors, communications, or other space‑based technologies. Moreover, the successful integration of IOD‑1 GEMS into the ISS’s deployment infrastructure highlights the collaborative ecosystem between commercial launch providers (Antares, Northrop Grumman), cargo operators (Cygnus), and on‑orbit services (NanoRacks), paving the way for more frequent and diverse CubeSat missions that can accelerate innovation across the space sector. ## Notable For - First Orbital Micro Systems CubeSat launched on an Antares‑Cygnus mission. - Deployment as part of NanoRacks CubeSat Deployment Mission 16, showcasing ISS‑based satellite release capabilities. - Utilization of a fully commercial launch and cargo chain (Antares → Cygnus → ISS). - Demonstration of rapid development and integration of a CubeSat within the standard 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm form factor. - Contributing data and experience to the broader CubeSat community regarding ISS deployment logistics. ## Body ### Development - **Manufacturer & Operator:** Orbital Micro Systems designed and built IOD‑1 GEMS. - **Class:** CubeSat, adhering to the 1U (10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm) specification. ### Launch Profile - **Launch Date:** 17 April 2019. - **Launch Vehicle:** Antares rocket, launched from Mid‑Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0. - **Launch Contractor:** Orbital Sciences Corporation. - **Payload:** The satellite rode as secondary cargo aboard Cygnus NG‑11, a Northrop Grumman‑operated resupply vehicle for the ISS. ### ISS Transfer & Deployment - **Arrival:** Cygnus NG‑11 docked with the ISS shortly after launch, delivering IOD‑1 GEMS to the station. - **Mission Association:** Part of the ISS NanoRacks CubeSat Deployment Mission 16. - **Deployment Date:** 3 July 2019, when the NanoRacks external deployer released the CubeSat into low‑Earth orbit. ### Operational Context - **Purpose:** Technology demonstration and validation of small‑satellite operations from the ISS. - **Orbit:** Low‑Earth orbit, typical of CubeSat deployments from the station (approximately 400 km altitude, 51.6° inclination). ### Related Entities - **CubeSat:** The broader class of miniaturized satellites built from standardized cubic modules. - **Antares:** The launch vehicle produced by Northrop Grumman, used for the NG‑11 mission. ### References & Media - Image of IOD‑1 GEMS inside the NanoRacks deployer: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Iss060e001618_NanoRack_CubeSat_Deployer.jpg - Launch and mission details are documented by NASA’s NSSDCA and press releases from Northrop Grumman and AmericaSpace. ## References 1. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2019-022A) 2. [Source](https://www.issnationallab.org/press-releases/northrop-grumman-crs-11-payload-overview/) 3. [Source](https://www.americaspace.com/2019/04/17/tenth-antares-booster-ferries-ng-11-cygnus-on-late-afternoon-flight-to-space-station/) 4. [Source](https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grummans-cygnus-spacecraft-successfully-completes-rendezvous-and-berthing-with-international-space-station-6754331) 5. [Source](https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2019/07/03/iss-daily-summary-report-7032019/)