SpaceMiningData
SpacecraftOtherEnded

Arkyd-6

Planetary Resources 6U CubeSat launched on 12 January 2018 on India's PSLV-C40 to test spacecraft subsystems and a mid-wave infrared imager intended for future detection of water and hydrated minerals on near-Earth asteroids. The operator declared that it satisfied all of its mission requirements; the imager observed only Earth targets.

Objective. Demonstrate a mid-wave infrared imager and supporting subsystems intended for detecting water on near-Earth asteroids (operator statement).

Claimed

Facts

Kind
Spacecraft
Mission type
Technology demonstration
Target
OtherLow Earth orbit (polar); imager tested on Earth targets
Launch
2018-01-12
Launch vehicle
PSLV-C40
Phase
EndedOperator post of 24 April 2018 declaring mission success.
Outcome
SuccessBasis: operator statement
Why it is included
Stated resource objective

Outcome statement (operator statement)

We are excited to share that the Arkyd-6 has satisfied all of its mission requirements.

What comes next

This mission has ended.

Participants

Operators, payload owners, carriers and customers are recorded separately.

OrganizationRole
Planetary ResourcesOperator
Indian Space Research OrganisationLaunch provider

Resources and evidence

ResourceEvidence
VolatilesClaimed

Open evidence gaps

  • ISRO PSLV-C40 payload list naming Arkyd-6 (would support the launch-provider participant).

Sources

4 excerpts from 1 publication

One web address counts as one publication.

  1. [1]Mission Success: Arkyd-6 tests key technologies for commercial space resource exploration (archived)
    Planetary Resources (Internet Archive capture)Company statementPublished 2018-04-24Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: launch date, objective
    On January 12, 2018, we launched the Arkyd-6, a 6U CubeSat, a demonstration platform for technology intended to detect water resources in space.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]Mission Success: Arkyd-6 tests key technologies for commercial space resource exploration (archived)
    Planetary Resources (Internet Archive capture)Company statementPublished 2018-04-24Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: launch vehicle, participants
    The launch on the Indian PSLV C40 was spectacular
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]Mission Success: Arkyd-6 tests key technologies for commercial space resource exploration (archived)
    Planetary Resources (Internet Archive capture)Company statementPublished 2018-04-24Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: outcome, phase
    We are excited to share that the Arkyd-6 has satisfied all of its mission requirements.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]Mission Success: Arkyd-6 tests key technologies for commercial space resource exploration (archived)
    Planetary Resources (Internet Archive capture)Company statementPublished 2018-04-24Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary, resources
    During the mission, the imager was used as a tool to search for the presence of water and other economic signatures on Earth, but our focus is to find the presence of water beyond Earth.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.

Cite this record

SpaceMiningData, “Arkyd-6”, dataset version a00fa2c68a45, built 2026-11-11, https://spaceminingdata.com/missions/planetary-resources-arkyd-6.html. Record checked 2026-09-25.