Aspera (spacecraft)

Aspera is a NASA small satellite astrophysical mission selected in 2020 as part of the Astrophysics Pioneers Program. The mission is designed to map diffuse extreme-ultraviolet emission from hot gas in the circumgalactic medium and intergalactic medium of nearby galaxies by detecting the O VI doublet at 103.2 and 103.8 nm.

Launch and operation

NASA awarded the launch to Rocket Lab in May 2025 under the Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare contract. Aspera will be launched on an Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1A in Mahia, New Zealand, into a Sun-synchronous orbit on 15 August 2026.