# NEXTSat

> DARPA technology demonstration satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q6953639](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6953639)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEXTSat)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nextsat

## Summary
NEXTSat (Next Generation Satellite and Commodities Spacecraft) was a technology demonstration spacecraft developed for the DARPA Orbital Express mission. Manufactured by Ball Aerospace & Technologies and operated by the Air Force Research Laboratory, it was launched in 2007 to test autonomous servicing and refueling technologies in low Earth orbit.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Technology demonstration spacecraft.
- **Launch Date:** March 9, 2007 (03:10:00 UTC).
- **Launch Vehicle:** Atlas V 401 (AV-013).
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41.
- **Manufacturer:** Ball Aerospace & Technologies.
- **Spacecraft Bus:** BCP-300.
- **Mass:** 227 kg (launch weight).
- **Dimensions:** 1.02 meters in height; 1.00 meters in diameter (2.11 meters across the solar array).
- **Operator:** Air Force Research Laboratory.
- **Mission Program:** Part of the Orbital Express program.
- **Decommissioned:** July 21, 2007.
- **Orbital Decay:** April 21, 2023.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the NEXTSat satellite?
A: NEXTSat served as a technology demonstration spacecraft for the DARPA Orbital Express mission. It was designed to test experimental technologies for autonomous spacecraft servicing and refueling.

### Q: When was NEXTSat launched and how long did it operate?
A: NEXTSat was launched on March 9, 2007. It was decommissioned on July 21, 2007, operating for slightly over four months.

### Q: What happened to NEXTSat after its mission ended?
A: Following its decommissioning in July 2007, the satellite remained in low Earth orbit until it underwent atmospheric entry and orbital decay on April 21, 2023.

## Why It Matters
NEXTSat represents a critical milestone in the field of autonomous on-orbit servicing, a capability vital for extending the lifespan of satellites and maintaining space assets. As the "client" or "commodities" component of the Orbital Express mission, it worked in conjunction with the ASTRO spacecraft to demonstrate that satellites could autonomously rendezvous, dock, and transfer fuel or hardware without human intervention.

The data gathered from the interactions between NEXTSat and ASTRO provided foundational knowledge for future servicing missions. By proving that a spacecraft like NEXTSat could be refueled and serviced by another, the mission helped validate technologies that could reduce the cost of space operations and enable more complex, long-duration missions in the future.

## Notable For
- **Autonomous Servicing Demonstration:** Serving as a key component in the Orbital Express mission, which demonstrated autonomous rendezvous and docking.
- **DARPA Technology:** Being a specialized platform for testing high-risk, high-reward experimental technologies under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
- **Specific Bus Design:** Utilizing the BCP-300 spacecraft bus, a design used in various other scientific and commercial missions.
- **Orbital Lifespan:** Remaining in orbit for 16 years after its operational mission concluded before re-entering the atmosphere.

## Body

### Development and Specifications
NEXTSat, identified by the COSPAR ID 2007-006C and SCN 30774, was a United States spacecraft constructed by Ball Aerospace & Technologies. The contract for the satellite was awarded in 2002, with construction taking place between 2003 and 2005.

Physically, the satellite featured a height of 1.02 meters and a diameter of 1.00 meters. When including its solar array, the diameter extended to 2.11 meters. The spacecraft had a launch mass of 227 kilograms and utilized the BCP-300 spacecraft bus. It was powered by a single spacecraft solar array.

### Mission and Operations
The satellite was launched on March 9, 2007, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41 atop an Atlas V 401 launch vehicle (flight AV-013). It was placed into low Earth orbit. The primary operator was the Air Force Research Laboratory.

NEXTSat functioned as part of the Orbital Express program. During its mission, it was launched alongside the ASTRO spacecraft. The primary objective was to demonstrate the feasibility of autonomous on-orbit servicing.

### Timeline and Conclusion
The operational phase of NEXTSat was relatively short. After a successful demonstration period, the spacecraft was decommissioned on July 21, 2007. The satellite continued to orbit Earth as space debris until it naturally decayed and underwent atmospheric entry on April 21, 2023.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/nextsat.htm)
2. [Source](https://archive.darpa.mil/orbitalexpress/pdf/oe_fact_sheet_final.pdf)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=30774)
5. [Source](https://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0707/23oe/)
6. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2007-006C)