Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator

Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator
Mission typeTechnology demonstration
OperatorNASA
Mission duration90 days (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftPTD-1 → PTD-5
Spacecraft type6U CubeSat
BusTyvak
ManufacturerAmes Research Center and
Glenn Research Center
Launch mass11 kg (24 lb) [1]
Dimensions30 × 20 × 10 cm
Power65 watts
Start of mission
Launch date24 January 2021 (PTD-1) [2]
RocketFalcon 9
Launch siteCCAFS,
ContractorSpaceX
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
AltitudeSun-synchronous orbit

NASA's Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) Project is a series of tech demonstrations of technologies aboard a series of nanosatellites known as CubeSats, providing significant enhancements to the performance of these versatile spacecraft. Each of the five planned PTD missions consist of a 6-unit (6U) CubeSat with expandable solar arrays.[3]

Flight qualification and demonstration of these technologies carried aboard the PTD missions are expected to benefit future government and commercial missions. These include propulsion systems and sub-systems that stabilize and point the spacecraft to high accuracy in order to use a laser communications system capable of high-speed broadband.

The first mission, PTD-1, was scheduled for launch in December 2020 on a Falcon 9 rocket, from Cape Canaveral, as part of the ride-share ELaNa mission 35,[4] launched on January 24th, 2021, and demonstrated HYDROS-C water-based propellant system. PTD-3 launched on May 25 2022 on the SpaceX Transporter-5 rideshare and demonstrated the TBIRD infrared communication system.[5]

  1. ^ "Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator: Demonstrating Novel CubeSat Technologies in Low Earth Orbit" (PDF). nasa.gov. NASA. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) - NASA". Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference upcoming launches was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) - NASA". Retrieved 19 February 2024.