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SOAR

retired
Technology DemonstrationLEOCOSPAR 1998-067SMLaunched 6/3/2021
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
Dragon CRS-22 Mission
Launch Vehicle
Falcon 9 FT5
Launch Date
6/3/2021
Last Contact
3/13/2022
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
LEO
Altitude
417.5 km
Inclination
51.64 deg
Dry Mass
4 kg
Total Mass
4 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Technology Demonstration
Payload Category
TECH
Payload Class
A
Organizations
Operator
University of Manchester
Manufacturer
University of Manchester
Registry
COSPAR ID
1998-067SM
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/1004
Track
Mentions
15
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

AEON includes the NSF Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter telescope at NSF Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, the 4.1-meter SOAR telescope on Cerro Pachón in Chile, Gemini South in Chile, Gemini North in Hawaii, and the Las Cumbres Observatory global telescope network.

GeneralValue 4.0May 3, 2026NSF NOIRLab testa ecosistema per avvisi di Rubin

Las Cumbres Observatory runs the robotized scheduling software that AEON uses to manage incoming observing requests for SOAR and Blanco.

Relationships
Capability
Value 4.0
May 3, 2026
NSF NOIRLab testa ecosistema per avvisi di Rubin

The observations used the 570-megapixel Dark Energy Camera on Blanco, the Goodman spectrograph on SOAR, and the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrographs on Gemini North and Gemini South.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0May 3, 2026NSF NOIRLab testa ecosistema per avvisi di Rubin

The USAF pursued military space projects such as the MTSS and the Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar despite restrictions on competing with NASA.

GeneralValue 3.5Mar 9, 2026McDonnell’s Military Test Space Station (MTSS)

Small winged spacecraft have a limited record of success, with the European Space Agency's Hermes spaceplane and the US Air Force's Dyna-Soar both canceled during development.

GeneralValue 2.0Nov 10, 2025Blue wings into space: the Air Launched Sortie Vehicle

The USAF Dyna-Soar X-20 space glider was cancelled in December 1963.

PlanValue 4.0Oct 27, 2025EUROSPACE and the European spaceplane (part 2)

December 1963 marked the cancellation of the military Dyna-Soar (X-20) space glider.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Oct 28, 2024Mysterious MOL concepts

The initial operation of the MTSS was envisioned for 1970 as a follow-on to the Mercury and Dyna-Soar programs.

PlanValue 3.0Aug 12, 2024The Military Test Space Station (MTSS)

The X-15 set altitude and speed records but true orbital spaceplanes like the X-20 Dyna-Soar were cancelled.

GeneralValue 2.0Feb 12, 2024Review: Dark Star

Homeowners can use SOAR Energy’s EcoSave Mortgage option to finance energy-efficient upgrades up to 15% of the appraised value of the home being purchased.

GeneralFinancialValue 2.0Oct 30, 2023SOAR Energy Launches SolarScan, an AI-Powered Home Energy Assessment Tool

SOAR Energy launched SolarScan, an AI- and ML-powered home energy assessment tool for homeowners and solar contractors.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Oct 30, 2023SOAR Energy Launches SolarScan, an AI-Powered Home Energy Assessment Tool

Aalyria’s work with the Naval Research Laboratory will focus on developing the Secure Optical Aerial Relay (SOAR) capability to enable over-the-horizon connectivity between distributed naval assets operating across land, air, and sea.

CapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.3Jun 29, 2023Aalyria awarded NRL SOAR Project contract

The July 2022 observation campaign used the Lowell Discovery Telescope, the Magellan Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, and the Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope.

CapabilityPlanValue 3.5Aug 29, 2022DART Team Confirms Orbit of Targeted Asteroid

Researchers are testing materials for VLEO drag reduction in the University of Manchester’s Rarefied Orbital Aerodynamics Research facility and in orbit on SOAR.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.4Oct 5, 2021How low can satellites go? VLEO entrepreneurs plan to find out

University of Manchester researchers deployed the Satellite for Orbital Aerodynamics Research (SOAR) cubesat from the ISS in June as part of Discoverer-funded in-orbit testing of materials and aerodynamics.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Oct 5, 2021How low can satellites go? VLEO entrepreneurs plan to find out