# SHERPA

> commercial satellite dispenser by Andrews Space

**Wikidata**: [Q60740408](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60740408)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SHERPA_(space_tug))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sherpa

## Summary
SHERPA is a commercial satellite dispenser (spacecraft model) by Andrews Space that is designed to release smaller payloads into their designated orbit. It is listed as a spacecraft model manufactured by Spaceflight Systems and had its first flight on 2018-12-03.

## Key Facts
- SHERPA is a commercial satellite dispenser "by Andrews Space."  
- Instance of: spacecraft model.  
- Subclass of: satellite dispenser — a spacecraft designed to release smaller payloads into their designated orbit.  
- Manufacturer: Spaceflight Systems.  
- First flight date: 2018-12-03.  
- Alias: 夏尔巴LTC星2号.  
- Wikipedia title: "SHERPA (space tug)"; available in English, Finnish, and Indonesian.  
- Wikidata description: commercial satellite dispenser by Andrews Space.  
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/11c0w0lsp5.  
- Affiliated with: Xabi Uribe-Etxebarria (Spanish businessman; entrepreneur; citizen of Spain).

## FAQs
### Q: What is SHERPA?
A: SHERPA is a commercial satellite dispenser (a type of spacecraft model) created by Andrews Space to deploy smaller payloads into their designated orbits.

### Q: Who manufactured SHERPA?
A: SHERPA is listed as manufactured by Spaceflight Systems.

### Q: When did SHERPA first fly?
A: SHERPA's first flight occurred on 2018-12-03.

### Q: What does a satellite dispenser do?
A: A satellite dispenser is a spacecraft designed to release smaller payloads into their designated orbit. SHERPA performs that role as a commercial dispenser.

## Why It Matters
SHERPA represents a commercial approach to deploying multiple secondary payloads from a single launch platform. As a satellite dispenser, SHERPA addresses the operational need to place small satellites into their specific orbits after ride-share launches, enabling more efficient use of primary launch vehicles. Its first flight on 2018-12-03 places it within the contemporary era of growing small-satellite activity and commercial space services. The involvement of Andrews Space as the creator and Spaceflight Systems as manufacturer highlights a collaboration between space-focused companies to offer a modular delivery solution. Presence on major knowledge platforms (Wikipedia in multiple languages and a Google Knowledge Graph entry) indicates recognition and relevance in the space sector. For organizations launching constellations or ride-share customers, systems like SHERPA are important tools for achieving tailored orbital insertion without requiring dedicated launch vehicles.

## Notable For
- Being identified as a commercial satellite dispenser "by Andrews Space."  
- First recorded flight date of 2018-12-03.  
- Manufactured by Spaceflight Systems while described as created by Andrews Space.  
- Has an alias in Chinese: 夏尔巴LTC星2号.  
- Documented on Wikipedia (title: "SHERPA (space tug)") in three languages and present in Google's Knowledge Graph.

## Body
### Overview
- SHERPA is categorized as a spacecraft model.  
- Its primary function is as a satellite dispenser, i.e., to release smaller payloads into designated orbits.

### Classification
- Instance of: spacecraft model.  
- Subclass: satellite dispenser (spacecraft designed to release smaller payloads into their designated orbit).

### Development and Manufacturing
- SHERPA is described as a commercial satellite dispenser by Andrews Space.  
- The listed manufacturer is Spaceflight Systems.

### Flight History
- First flight date recorded: 2018-12-03.

### Affiliations
- Affiliated person listed: Xabi Uribe-Etxebarria, a Spanish businessman and entrepreneur (citizen of Spain).

### Identifiers and References
- Alias: 夏尔巴LTC星2号.  
- Wikipedia title: "SHERPA (space tug)"; languages: English, Finnish, Indonesian.  
- Wikidata description: commercial satellite dispenser by Andrews Space.  
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/11c0w0lsp5.  
- Sitelink count: 3.