On December 18, 2025, NASA confirmed that its innovative DiskSat spacecraft is gearing up for launch into low Earth orbit, marking a major milestone in small‑satellite technology.
The mission will deploy four plate‑shaped DiskSats designed to demonstrate a new spacecraft architecture that could significantly lower mission costs and expand access to space.
The launch window opens at 12 a.m. ET, with live coverage from Rocket Lab beginning approximately 20 minutes before liftoff.
DiskSat represents a bold departure from the traditional CubeSat design. Instead of a compact cube, each DiskSat is a flat, circular spacecraft measuring 40 inches (one meter) in diameter and just one inch thick.
According to NASA, the new shape offers more surface area for power generation, larger apertures for instruments, and greater internal volume for payloads—all while maintaining compatibility with standard CubeSat launch containers.
NASA’s DiskSat Aims to Transform Small Spacecraft Design
CubeSats have long been favored for their low cost and standardized interfaces, but their box‑like structure limits power capacity and instrument size.
DiskSat overcomes these constraints by providing a larger, flat surface ideal for high‑power missions, communications payloads, and radar applications. NASA notes that DiskSats can be stacked tightly inside a launch vehicle fairing, enabling efficient deployment of multiple satellites at once.
NASA’s DiskSat is gearing up to launch into low Earth orbit!
Four plate-shaped spacecraft will demonstrate a new small spacecraft technology that aims to lower mission costs and expand access to space.
The launch window opens Dec 18 at 12am ET. Live coverage from… pic.twitter.com/MQlCxXXUZ7
— NASA Ames (@NASAAmes) December 17, 2025
The four DiskSats launching in this demonstration mission will test maneuverability, electric propulsion, and low‑altitude operations.
After deployment, one or more satellites will perform controlled orbit changes, including descents into very low Earth orbit—below 300 kilometers—where atmospheric drag is significantly higher.
This capability is crucial for future Earth‑observation missions requiring ultra‑precise measurements.
Technology Demonstration Supported by NASA, U.S. Space Force, and Rocket Lab
The DiskSat mission is funded by NASA’s Small Spacecraft & Distributed Systems program, with spacecraft development led by The Aerospace Corporation.
Launch and ground operations are supported by the U.S. Space Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program and the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program. Rocket Lab is providing launch services for the mission.
NASA highlights that DiskSat’s adaptable design could support a wide range of future missions, including communications constellations, multi‑frequency signaling, and even propulsion‑assisted transfers from Earth orbit to lunar orbit.
With its large surface area and low drag profile, DiskSat is also well suited for long‑duration missions in very low Earth orbit.
