Liftoff Time
No Earlier Than August 15, 2026
Watch Livestream
Not Yet Available
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


Agency
Rocket LabPrice
$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
Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand
77th
Mission
1st
Mission of 2026
77th
Mission
1st
Mission of 2026
4th
Orbital launch attempt