Aspera

Liftoff Time

No Earlier Than August 15, 2026

Watch Livestream

Not Yet Available

Mission Details

Aspera

Through the use of a telescope to study ultraviolet light, Aspera will examine hot gas in the space between galaxies, called the intergalactic medium, that is thought to contribute to the birth of stars and planets. Aspera will be the first NASA astrophysics mission to gather and map these ultraviolet light signatures, potentially unlocking a deeper understanding of the origins of stars, planets, and life in the universe.

Manufacturer: UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory

Operator: NASA

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

60 kilograms

Rocket

Active
Electron/Curie

Active Since 2018


Price

$7.50 million

Rocket

Height: 18m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 320 kg

Liftoff Thrust

224 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 1.2m

Height: 4.05m

Stages

3

Launch Site

Unknown Pad

Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand

Stats

Electron


77th

Mission

1st

Mission of 2026

Rocket Lab


77th

Mission

1st

Mission of 2026

2026


4th

Orbital launch attempt