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NASA's briefcase-size MarCO satellite picks up honors
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) Nov 28, 2019

Engineer Joel Steinkraus uses sunlight to test the solar arrays on one of the Mars Cube One (MarCO) spacecraft at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The MarCOs will be the first CubeSats -- a kind of modular, mini-satellite -- flown into deep space. They're designed to fly along behind NASA's InSight lander on its cruise to Mars. If they make the journey to Mars, they will test a relay of data about InSight's entry, descent and landing back to Earth. Though InSight's mission will not depend on the success of the MarCOs, they will be a test of how CubeSats can be used in deep space.

Aviation Week and Space Technology is bestowing a prestigious Laureate award on NASA's pair of briefcase-size Mars Cube One spacecraft. Known as MarCO, they're the first CubeSats - compact spacecraft made up of cube-shaped units - to travel into deep space.

Designed and built at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, as a technology demonstration, MarCO launched to the Red Planet last year with NASA's InSight lander. Using experimental radios and antennas, the pair relayed signals back to Earth that enabled InSight's team to observe the spacecraft's Nov. 26, 2018, entry, descent and landing on Mars in near real-time.

They also sent back stunning images of Mars and performed some simple radio science, transmitting signals through the edge of Mars' atmosphere - all within a low-cost mission.

"It's gratifying to see MarCO honored in this way. The accomplishments of the pair highlight the tremendous potential of small spacecraft to enhance our exploration efforts," said JPL Director Michael Watkins.

Now in their 63rd year, the Laureates honor achievements in global aerospace. A Grand Laureate in each of four categories will be selected from the 28 winners at the awards ceremony being held in March in Washington. This isn't the only honor for MarCO: It was named Small Satellite Mission of the Year in August by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

"This is the MarCO team's second major aerospace award," said John Baker, JPL's program manager for small spacecraft. "It's an honor to be recognized in our field. But the real pleasure has been seeing how the team's achievements are inspiring future space projects around the world."


Related Links
Mars Cube One
Microsat News and Nanosat News at SpaceMart.com


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