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CADRE

retired
Science ExplorationLEOCOSPAR 1998-067HVLaunched 12/6/2015
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
S.S. Deke Slayton II
Launch Vehicle
Atlas V 401 C
Launch Date
12/6/2015
Last Contact
5/16/2016
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
LEO
Altitude
401 km
Inclination
51.64 deg
Dry Mass
5 kg
Total Mass
5 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Science Exploration
Payload Category
SCI
Payload Class
A
Organizations
Operator
University of Michigan
Manufacturer
University of Michigan
Registry
COSPAR ID
1998-067HV
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/801
Track
Mentions
16
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

Motiv Space Systems’ robotic arms, actuators, and drive electronics have been deployed on NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover, the CADRE lunar rovers, and precision mechanisms supporting scientific instruments and spacecraft subsystems.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0May 20, 2026Record Launch Contract and Robotics Acquisition Expand Rocket Lab’s Mission Capabilities

Motiv Space Systems’ technology supported NASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars and the CADRE lunar rovers.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0May 11, 2026Rocket Lab acquisisce Motiv per la robotica spaziale

The U.S. Space Force will integrate its space forces at the component level to provide a cadre of space experts who can work with the Joint Force, allies, and partners to integrate space activities into shared operations, activities, and investments.

PlanGeneralValue 2.0Dec 8, 2023U.S. Space Force activates new unit to support operations in Europe and Africa

In a CADRE experiment, each rover will explore a designated area of about 4,300 square feet (400 square meters) and create a topographic 3D map using stereo cameras.

CapabilityPlanValue 3.2Aug 7, 2023NASA’s Trio of Mini Rovers to Demonstrate New Autonomous Robotic Technology

The CADRE rovers are built from a combination of commercial off-the-shelf parts and custom-built components to balance robustness, compactness, and light weight.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Aug 7, 2023NASA’s Trio of Mini Rovers to Demonstrate New Autonomous Robotic Technology

CADRE will launch as a payload on Intuitive Machines’ third lunar lander mission, IM-3, under NASA’s CLPS initiative managed by the Science Mission Directorate.

PlanValue 4.3Aug 7, 2023NASA’s Trio of Mini Rovers to Demonstrate New Autonomous Robotic Technology

Each CADRE rover will carry multistatic ground-penetrating radar that uses reflections from other rovers to create 3D images of subsurface structure down to about 10.1 m (10 m).

CapabilityValue 4.0Aug 7, 2023NASA’s Trio of Mini Rovers to Demonstrate New Autonomous Robotic Technology

Motiv Space Systems designed and built key CADRE hardware elements at the company’s Pasadena, California, facility.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Aug 7, 2023NASA’s Trio of Mini Rovers to Demonstrate New Autonomous Robotic Technology

USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC will provide U.S. Indo-Pacific Command a cadre of space experts to work with allies and partners to integrate space activities into shared operations, activities, and investments.

RelationshipsGeneralValue 3.0Nov 25, 2022U.S. Space Force activates + assigns forces to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. was selected by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to supply solar panels for NASA’s Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers (CADRE) program.

RelationshipsGeneralValue 4.5Oct 14, 2022Solar panel construction contract for NASA’s CADRE mobile robot program assigned to Rocket Lab

Mike Fincke, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore have been training together as a cadre supporting Starliner since the initial OFT-2 launch attempt was postponed in August 2021.

PlanGovernanceValue 3.0Jun 16, 2022NASA assigns two astronauts to Starliner test flight

The NRO plans to procure synthetic aperture radar commercial imagery from a growing cadre of vendors in 2022.

PlanRelationshipsValue 4.0Jan 19, 2022Space and national security: What to expect in 2022

Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley joined the commercial crew cadre of astronauts in 2015 to train on both SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner vehicles.

GovernanceCapabilityValue 3.0May 30, 2020Crew Dragon in orbit after historic launch

NASA selected Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley in 2015 as part of an initial cadre of astronauts to train and work with both Boeing and SpaceX on commercial crew vehicles.

GovernanceRelationshipsValue 4.0May 27, 2020Commercial crew astronauts accept risks of test flight

The Army will retain a space cadre of about 2,000 military and civilian personnel who support Army operations or are part of staffs supporting units in the field.

GovernanceGeneralValue 2.0May 15, 2019Majority of Army’s space soldiers will not transfer to the Space Force

If created, a Space Force could comprise 35,000 to 40,000 personnel from Air Force Space Command, the Army's space cadre, and the intelligence community.

GeneralGovernanceValue 2.0Jul 30, 2018National security experts throw cold water on Space Force euphoria