Feb. 02, 2016
ArgoMoon is a nanosatellite for deep space, built by Argotec and coordinated by the Italian Space Agency. It has been selected by NASA as the payload for the upcoming Exploration Mission 1.
The Italian nanosatellite ArgoMoon will be representing Europe in NASA's next Exploration Mission. The USA space agency has, in fact, defined the first mission of the Space Launch System (SLS) planned for the end of 2018. Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1) represents the second test flight of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, a space vehicle currently being developed by NASA, which will be used for human exploration of the asteroids and the cislunar spaces, in the lead up to a future landing on Mars.
Of the CubeSats chosen by NASA for the exploration of deep space, there is ArgoMoon, a nanosatellite that will be designed and built entirely by Argotec, an Italian engineering company specialized in the research & development of aerospace systems. The Italian Space Agency (ASI) will coordinate the ArgoMoon project. Of those proposed at European level, this is the only one selected by NASA, demonstrating the position of excellence gained by Italy in space research.
"In the great exploration challenge shared by the world space agencies, - says Gabriele Mascetti, head of the Human Flight and Microgravity Unit of the Italian Space Agency - man's journey to Mars, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) continues to be at the forefront, promoting and maintaining our country's scientific and technical excellence. NASA's choice of ArgoMoon further reinforces Italy's prestigious role alongside the most important countries conducting space activities".
The use of nanosatellites has increased considerably in recent years, thanks to lower costs resulting from smaller dimensions and the use of several commercial components. Argotec engineers will be facing the challenge of investigating Italian technical solutions that can be confined in smaller spaces and must be extremely reliable for a mission into deep space.
ArgoMoon will take historically important photos of the EM-1 mission and will test innovative communication systems. This is a unique opportunity for technological research into nanosatellites, the results of which will make it possible to obtain new solutions aimed at extending the use of nanosatellites to future explorations and to support Earth observation at a low cost.
"This is another important and significant step for an Italian SME - says David Avino, Managing Director of Argotec - that has always focused on research and innovation in the space sector. Our engineers are working to develop a new concept of nanosatellites using innovative materials and to integrate some of our systems and Italian technologies into a space the size of a shoebox. CubeSats are the drones of the future and we will be the first to test them at such a distance from Earth, in the extreme conditions of translunar orbit".