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Aspera mission patch
TBD

Aspera

Last Updated: 1 hour ago
NASA
Vehicle
Electron
Launch Site
Unknown Pad
Orbit
Low Earth Orbit
Profile
Astrophysics
Thursday, December 31, 2026

Mission State

Schedule
Window to be announced

Rocket Lab has not published a precise launch time yet.

Coverage
Stream not published yet

Coverage often appears closer to launch, especially for updated NET dates.

Name Origin

AI

The mission name refers to the primary payload, NASA's ASPERA (Advanced Spectral Planet-Element Reconnaissance Archive). In Latin, 'Aspera' translates to 'rough' or 'difficult,' famously appearing in the space-themed motto 'per aspera ad astra,' meaning 'through hardships to the stars.'

"Aspera"

Mission Overview

Aspera houses an ultraviolet telescope and will examine hot gas in the intergalactic medium, thought to be contributing 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.

Technical Details

Vehicle
Electron
Rocket Lab launch vehicle
Launch Site
Unknown Pad
Unknown Pad
Target Orbit
Low Earth Orbit
Planned deployment regime
Mission Profile
Astrophysics
Mission architecture
Customer
NASA
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