NASA to Launch Small Science Satellites From Alaska

Artist's concept of NASA's FASTSAT satellite, which is set to launch Nov. 19 carrying six different scientific payloads. CREDIT: NASA View full size image

NASA is preparing for the launch of two small satellites packed with experiments, including a solar sail prototype, from Alaska this week.

The two main satellites, known as FASTSAT and O/OREOS, will each carry multiple piggyback payloads of their own, mission scientists said. The small solar sail is one of these parasite payloads.

The satellites will ride to space aboard a Minotaur 4 rocket, which is slated to blast off from the Alaska Aerospace Corporation's Kodiak Launch Complex on Friday (Nov. 19) at 8:24 p.m. EST (0124 Nov. 20 GMT).

Both satellites' missions involve technology demonstrations as well as research objectives. They're part of a broader NASA effort to find ways to perform research in space cheaply and reliably, agency officials said.

"We wanted to enable a low-cost platform into orbit," said Mark Boudreaux, FASTSAT project manager at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. "We're very excited about that.