# LunIR

> CubeSat

**Wikidata**: [Q21028134](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21028134)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LunIR)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lunir

## Summary
LunIR (also known as SkyFire or Lunar InfraRed Imaging) is a miniaturized satellite, specifically a 10cm-sided CubeSat, operated by Lockheed Martin. Sponsored by NASA, the spacecraft was launched on August 29, 2022, aboard the inaugural flight of the Space Launch System Block 1. Its mission involves observing the lunar surface using an infrared sensor.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** LunIR is a CubeSat, a class of miniaturized satellites made up of 10cm-sided cubic modules.
*   **Launch Date:** Launched on August 29, 2022 (marked "no earlier than" in planning documents).
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Transported to space via the Space Launch System Block 1, the first iteration of NASA's heavy-lift rocket.
*   **Launch Site:** Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B.
*   **Operator:** Lockheed Martin.
*   **Developer/Manufacturer:** The spacecraft bus was developed by Tyvak International, while the infrared sensor was manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
*   **Sponsor/Funder:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
*   **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID is 2022-156K; NSSDCA ID is LUNIR.
*   **Country of Origin:** United States.

## FAQs
### Q: What is LunIR?
A: LunIR is a miniaturized lunar satellite (CubeSat) developed by Tyvak International and Lockheed Martin. It is designed to flyby the Moon to collect data and test new technologies.

### Q: When and how did LunIR launch?
A: LunIR launched on August 29, 2022, from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B. It was a secondary payload aboard the first iteration of NASA's Space Launch System (Block 1).

### Q: Who is responsible for the LunIR satellite?
A: The mission is funded and sponsored by NASA. Lockheed Martin serves as the operator and sensor manufacturer, while Tyvak International manufactured the spacecraft bus.

## Why It Matters
LunIR represents a critical shift in deep space exploration strategies, demonstrating how compact, cost-effective CubeSats can complement larger, flagship missions like the Space Launch System (SLS). By hitching a ride on the SLS Block 1, LunIR validates the "ride-share" model for interplanetary travel, allowing scientific and commercial entities to test technologies in deep space without bearing the full cost of a dedicated launch vehicle.

Technologically, the mission highlights the increasing sophistication of miniaturized components. With a specialized infrared sensor manufactured by Lockheed Martin integrated into a bus by Tyvak International, LunIR pushes the boundaries of what small-scale hardware can achieve in the harsh environment of lunar space. This collaboration between NASA and private industry serves as a blueprint for future lunar scouting missions, emphasizing that high-value scientific data—such as lunar surface composition analysis—can be gathered by spacecraft roughly the size of a shoebox rather than traditional, massive probes.

## Notable For
*   Being a selected secondary payload on the Artemis I mission (SLS Block 1).
*   Utilizing a specialized infrared sensor for lunar observation despite its small CubeSat form factor.
*   Operating under multiple aliases, including SkyFire and Lunar InfraRed Imaging.
*   Representing a collaboration between a major aerospace prime contractor (Lockheed Martin) and a specialized small satellite manufacturer (Tyvak International).

## Body
### Development and Manufacturing
LunIR is a 10cm-sided CubeSat (Class: miniaturized satellite) originating from the United States. The development of the spacecraft involved a partnership between two key industry players:
*   **Spacecraft Bus:** Manufactured by Tyvak International.
*   **Infrared Sensor:** Manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed Martin serves as the primary operator of the satellite, though the mission is fully funded and sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

### Mission Profile
The satellite was assigned the COSPAR ID 2022-156K and the NSSDCA ID LUNIR. It successfully launched on August 29, 2022, from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B.

The launch vehicle was the Space Launch System Block 1, noted as the first iteration of NASA's SLS. As a secondary payload, LunIR was deployed to conduct observations of the lunar surface, leveraging its infrared imaging capabilities. The mission profile is tied to NASA's broader lunar exploration architecture.

## References

1. [Source](https://terranorbital.com/lunir/)
2. [Source](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features/2021/lunir-to-observe-lunar-surface.html)
3. Jonathan's Space Report