Channel: NASA's Ames Research Center

Category: Science & Technology

Tags: nasa ames research centernasa in silicon valleysmall satellitesmall satsmallsatspace technologynisvlow earth orbitoptical communications and sensor demonstrationscubesatocsdearthleoorbit

Description: This unnarrated animation depicts NASA’s first coordinated maneuver between two CubeSats in low-Earth orbit as part of NASA’s Optical Communications and Sensor Demonstration mission. The twin OCSD spacecraft, each approximately the size of a tissue box, were orbiting Earth about 5.5 miles apart when they established a radio frequency communications crosslink to “talk” with each other. One spacecraft issued a command to the second to activate its thruster and close the gap between the two. The fuel tanks on both spacecraft are filled with water. During this propulsive maneuver, the water was converted to steam by the thrusters to propel the spacecraft. Members of the news media interested in covering this topic should get in touch with the technology media contact at NASA’s Ames Research Center, listed here: nasa.gov/ames/media Video credit: NASA/Ames Research Center This video may be downloaded at: images.nasa.gov/details-ARC-20190801-AAV3211-OCSD-OrbitalManeuver-NASAWeb.html Follow us on social media to hear about the latest developments in space, science, technology and aeronautics. Facebook facebook.com/nasaames Twitter twitter.com/nasaames Instagram instagram.com/nasaames