BurstCube Deploys from International Space Station

  • Released Monday, June 24, 2024

The shoebox-sized BurstCube and SNOOPI (Signals of Opportunity P-band Investigation) satellites entered low-Earth orbit from the International Space Station on April 18, 2024.

BurstCube will study gamma-ray bursts, the universe’s most powerful explosions. SNOOPI will demonstrate technology for measuring soil moisture.

These CubeSats launched to the space station aboard SpaceX’s 30th Commercial Resupply Services mission on March 21, 2024

This time-lapse video, taken from the International Space Station, shows BurstCube and SNOOPI (Signals of Opportunity P-band Investigation) entering low-Earth orbit on April 18, 2024. BurstCube emerges first from the white deployer labeled “Nanoracks,” followed by SNOOPI. They begin to separate as they sail past one of the station’s solar arrays.

Credit: NASA/Matthew Dominick

Alt text: Time-lapse video of BurstCube and SNOOPI deployment.

Descriptive text: This time-lapse video strings together photos taken from the International Space Station. Two black and gold boxes emerge from a larger white box labeled “Nanoracks.” They’re very close, but separate as they zoom past two long, rectangular, gold-and-black panels. Earth is in the background, a blue sky streaked with white clouds. The timelapse animation is a little choppy.

BurstCube, at left, and SNOOPI (Signals of Opportunity P-band Investigation) enter low-Earth orbit from the Nanoracks deployer aboard the International Space Station on April 18, 2024.  

Credit: NASA/Matthew Dominick

Alt text: Image of BurstCube and SNOOPI deployment. 

Descriptive text: At top right is a white box labeled “Nanoracks.” Two smaller gold and black rectangles emerge from the white box. A long black and gold solar panel extends at a 45-degree angle along the left side of the image. Two thirds of the background show the blackness of space. The bottom third shows a cloudy Earth, topped by an arc of blue along its limb.

BurstCube, at left, and SNOOPI (Signals of Opportunity P-band Investigation) enter low-Earth orbit from the Nanoracks deployer aboard the International Space Station on April 18, 2024.

Credit: NASA/Matthew Dominick

Alt text: Image of BurstCube and SNOOPI deployment.

Descriptive text: At top right is a white box labeled “Nanoracks.” Two smaller gold and black rectangles emerge from the white box. A long black and gold solar panel extends at a 45-degree angle along the left side of the image. Two thirds of the background show the blackness of space. The bottom third shows a cloudy Earth, topped by an arc of blue along its limb.

BurstCube (left) and SNOOPI (Signals of Opportunity P-band Investigation) begin to separate as they enter low-Earth orbit. They deployed from the International Space Station on April 18, 2024. 

Credit: NASA/Matthew Dominick

Alt text: Image of BurstCube and SNOOPI entering low-Earth orbit.

Descriptive text: In this photo, BurstCube and SNOOPI are just slightly above and right of center. They are silver, gold, and black rectangles. BurstCube, on the left, tilts so the viewer sees one of its narrower ends. SNOOPI tilts so the viewer sees one of its broader sides. The background shows Earth’s atmosphere, mostly white clouds with some blue.

BurstCube (left) and SNOOPI (Signals of Opportunity P-band Investigation) begin to separate as they enter low-Earth orbit. They deployed from the International Space Station on April 18, 2024.

Credit: NASA/Matthew Dominick

Alt text: Image of BurstCube and SNOOPI entering low-Earth orbit.

Descriptive text: In this photo, BurstCube and SNOOPI are just slightly above and right of center. They are silver, gold, and black rectangles. BurstCube, on the left, tilts so the viewer sees one of its narrower ends. SNOOPI tilts so the viewer sees one of its broader sides. The background shows Earth’s atmosphere, mostly white clouds with some blue.

This time-lapse video shows a different angle of BurstCube and SNOOPI deploying from the International Space Station on April 18, 2024.

Credit: NASA/Nanoracks

Alt text: Time-lapse video of BurstCube and SNOOPI deployment.

Descriptive text: A boxy white container extends from the bottom right-hand corner at a 45-degree angle. Two small rectangular spacecraft emerge from the container and fly out of view. Earth’s atmosphere, blue streaked with white, is in the background.

A third angle of the BurstCube and SNOOPI deployment from the International Space Station on April 18, 2024.

Credit: NASA/Nanoracks

Alt text: Time-lapse video of BurstCube and SNOOPI deployment.

Descriptive text: A wide-angle view of BurstCube and SNOOPI’s deployment. In the bottom right-hand corner, part of the International Space Station is visible. A long, white column extends at a 45-degree angle. At the column’s base, something gold and shiny rotates — the COWVR (Compact Ocean Wind Vector Radiometer). At bottom right, long rectangular solar panels extend. Earth’s atmosphere is in the background, blue with plenty of white clouds. Near the bottom of the image, the viewer can see Earth's curvature and black space beneath.



Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. However, individual items should be credited as indicated above.

Release date

This page was originally published on Monday, June 24, 2024.
This page was last updated on Monday, June 24, 2024 at 1:49 PM EDT.


Missions

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