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.
Participants
Operators, payload owners, carriers and customers are recorded separately.
| Organization | Role |
|---|---|
| Planetary Resources | Operator |
| Indian Space Research Organisation | Launch provider |
Resources and evidence
| Resource | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Volatiles | Claimed |
Open evidence gaps
- ISRO PSLV-C40 payload list naming Arkyd-6 (would support the launch-provider participant).
Sources
4 sources- [1]Mission Success: Arkyd-6 tests key technologies for commercial space resource exploration (archived)
On January 12, 2018, we launched the Arkyd-6, a 6U CubeSat, a demonstration platform for technology intended to detect water resources in space.
- [2]Mission Success: Arkyd-6 tests key technologies for commercial space resource exploration (archived)
The launch on the Indian PSLV C40 was spectacular
- [3]Mission Success: Arkyd-6 tests key technologies for commercial space resource exploration (archived)
We are excited to share that the Arkyd-6 has satisfied all of its mission requirements.
- [4]Mission Success: Arkyd-6 tests key technologies for commercial space resource exploration (archived)
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.