NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

STP-S29A

Launch Time
NET February, 2026

Rocket

Minotaur IV
Image Credit: Northrop Grumman
Northrop
Status: Active
Price: $46.0 million
Liftoff Thrust: 2,200 kN
Payload to LEO: 1,735 kg
Stages: 4
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 23.88 m
Fairing Diameter: 2.34 m
Fairing Height: 6.4 m

Mission Details

STPSat-7

The main payload aboard STP-29A will be STPSat-7, an ESPA class satellite based on the Aegis Aerospace M-1 satellite bus used on the STPSat-4 mission for hosting research and technology demonstration payloads for the Department of Defense (DoD). One of the payload is U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Lightsheet Anomaly Resolution and Debris Observation (LARADO) instrument, used to detect and characterize lethal non-trackable orbital debris with lasers in orbit.

Manufacturer: Aegis Aerospace
Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 150.0 kg
Low Earth Orbit

AggieSat6

The primary mission of AggieSat6 (AGS6) is to demonstrate the functionality of a space-based radiofrequency array device for the Space Domain Awareness (SDA) application of satellite position and orbit determination.

The secondary mission is to sample the low-energy electron radiation environment on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to enhance existing radiation models.

Manufacturer/Operator: Texas A&M University
Payloads: 1
Low Earth Orbit

ASTRA-HyRAX

The Auburn Satellite Testbed for Retrodirective Array with Hybrid Retrodirective Array X-band, or ASTRA HyRAX, is the newest mission under development in AUSSP. The mission aims to use a hybrid retro directive array (HRA) payload developed at Auburn to characterize the direction of signals from target of opportunity.

In addition, the mission will fly an X-band radio designed in house at Auburn. This custom radio system is intended to be used on other mission.

Manufacturer/Operator: Auburn University
Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 3.9 kg
Low Earth Orbit

Location

SLC-8, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA