Incredible Technology

Steam-Powered Cubesats Dance in Space as One NASA Spacecraft Commands Its Twin

By Elizabeth Howell
published

They fly with WATER!

Using old-fashioned steam power, two cubesats executed the first coordinated maneuver in low-Earth orbit.

The propulsive movement happened after one of the twin spacecraft — with help from the ground — commanded the other to close the 5.5-mile (8.85-kilometer) gap separating the cubesats. Each spacecraft carries fuel tanks filled with water, which thrusters converted to steam to help the cubesats move closer together.

NASA says the maneuver shows the potential for small spacecraft to work together on future missions, even though for this initial demonstration, human operators made the call about when the satellites should move.

Related: CubeSats: Tiny, Versatile Spacecraft Explained (Infographic)

An artist's depiction of one satellite in the pair of cubesats that make up the Optical Communications and Sensor Demonstration mission. (Image credit: NASA)

"Demonstrations such as this will help advance technologies that will allow for greater and more extended use of small spacecraft in and beyond Earth-orbit," Roger Hunter, program manager of NASA's small spacecraft technology program, said in a statement. 

This steam-powered movement is part of the extended mission for the Optical Communications and Sensor Demonstration mission, which aims to demonstrate how spacecraft can maneuver in swarms and while operating in close quarters. In the distant future, such groups of spacecraft could be deployed into deep space and work autonomously to examine distant worlds or perform other science in the outer reaches of the solar system.

After more than 15 years of Earth-orbit operations, cubesats are starting to move across the solar system. NASA deployed the first Martian cubesats last year, to watch the landing of the InSight lander. And the agency is planning to send cubesats on Artemis 1, which will be an uncrewed mission of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft in 2020 or so to the moon. 

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. 

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Elizabeth Howell
Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace