NovaWurks is set deploy one of its Hyper-Integrated Satlets (HISats) from the ISS later this week. Pumpkin has partnered with NovaWurks (formerly NGC's NovaWorks) since 2010 on cutting-edge small space technology. In 2010, Pumpkin built the world's first deployable 56W solar array for NGC's NovaWork's Caerus/Mayflower 3U CubeSat, all on a handshake and in ten weeks. More recently, Pumpkin has partnered with NovaWurks on the development of a variety of small satellite technologies, two of which are on the ISS HISat. Pumpkin's space-grade products enable both modular and high-power energy collection within the HISat architecture.

Additionally, Pumpkin advised Stanford University's SSDL on its SNAPS 0.2U-size imager, an autonomous HD-video capture device for tethered use on microsats. The ISS HISat will utilize SNAPS in the upcoming mission. Former SSDL students involved in SNAPS are excited to see their efforts finally get to orbit!

We wish NovaWurks all the best with their HISat architecture. More information on this deployment is available online. There is also a nice overview of HISat and this mission at NASA.

The U.S. Army SMDC's Kestrel Eye II M imaging microsat has deployed from the ISS, and first contact was made at 08:01 CDT today. Kestrel Eye was built by Adcole Maryland (formerly Maryland Aerospace, Inc (MAI)). Pumpkin was involved in the early development of the first Kestrel Eye (originally called NanoImageSat), supplying the C&DH module and prototype 35mm image capture subsystem. 

Pumpkin has delivered multiple solar panels to another SMDC program with spaceflight heritage -- SMDC One, a 3U CubeSat-based system.

Pumpkin has worked with Adcole Maryland / MAI since 2008 on integrating their MAI-100 and MAI-400 ADACS into a variety of Pumpkin 3U and 6U CubeSats, including the NRO's Colony I program (MAI-100), and various Pumpkin MISC 3 and 6U SUPERNOVA spacecraft (MAI-400 with dual IR Earth Horizon Sensors). We congratulate Adcole Maryland on their most recent success -- they've earned it!

More information on the Kestrel Eye II deployment is available online.