STPSat 2 is an experimental spacecraft for the Space Test Program, or STP. It was the first flight of the Standard Interface Vehicle (STP-SIV). STPSat-2 carried three experimental payloads that were chosen by the DoD Space Experiment Review Board:

- SPEX (Space Phenomenology Experiment) consisting of two payloads to evaluate sensor compatibility for the space environment

- ODTML (Ocean Data Telemetry MicroSatLink) provides two way data relay from terrestrial (ocean or land) sensors to users (standalone or on the internet).

FASTRAC (Formation Autonomy Spacecraft with Thrust, Relnav, Attitude and Crosslink) is a nanosatellite pair whose design and integration have been undertaken by students at The University of Texas, at Austin. The project is part of a program sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory whose goal is to lead the development of affordable space technology. The objective of the FASTRAC mission is to investigate technologies that enable space research using satellite formations. The utilization of satellite formations in space is a pivotal advancement for the future of space exploration and research.

FalconSAT-5 is a microsatellite developed in the Department of Astronautics that will carry United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Physics Department scientific payloads into space.

The payloads that are currently intended to be flown on FS5 are Ion Source, Wafer-Integrated Spectrometer (WISPERS), Smart Miniaturized ElectroStatic Analyzer (SmartMESA), and Reciever UHF/VHF Signal Strength (RUSS).

FASTSAT-HSV (Fast Affordable Science and Technology Satellite - Huntsville) is small technological satellite to test out low-cost technologies for rapidly built small satellite missions. It was built by the Von Braun Center for Space Innovation (VCSI) in Huntsville Alabama in partnership with Dynetics Incorporated and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville Alabama. Operation of the satellite is conducted from the Mission Operations Center (MOC) at MSFC.

The satellite carries six small payloads, including three technology demonstration experiments and three atmospheric research instruments. The atmospheric research instruments TTI, MINI-ME and PISA were inherited from the cancelled MidSTAR 2 satellite.

RAX (Radio Aurora Explorer) is a student-built nanosatellite for ionospheric research. It is built on a triple CubeSat structure. The RAX will measure the energy flow in the ionosphere, the highest part of Earth's atmosphere where solar radiation turns regular atoms into charged particles.

The O/OREOS (Organics and/or Organisms Exposure to Orbital Stresses) satellite Mission is a NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Astrobiology Small Payloads (ASP) free-flying science demonstration satellite based on the GeneSat-1/Pharmasat Spacecraft Bus. O/OREOS has a modified payload structural section, providing for dual modular payload experimental systems. Modified bus software and new payload experiment control software are also being developed. The general mission scenario involves exposing selected organisms and organic compounds to the space environment, and monitoring or assessing changes to them induced by space exposure.

NanoSail D is a cubesat-based solar sail demonstrator. The mission goals are:

- Establish ARC-MSFC collaborative relationship for future small satellite initiatives
- Deploy a 10 m² solar sail leveraging work by MSFC approved under the SMD In-Space Propulsion Program
- Demo Orbital Debris Mitigation technology – drag sail
- Ground Imaging to reduce spacecraft instrumentation
- Add to flight experience – ARC Bus "light" experience

Ballast A and B are two inert ballast masses deployed by the HAPS stage to demonstrate the capability to launch payloads into different orbits.