APEX

retired

Technology DemonstrationLEOCOSPAR 1994-046ALaunched 8/3/1994

Admin Edit

Mission & Launch

Launch Mission: APEX Mission
Launch Vehicle: Pegasus
Launch Date: 8/3/1994
Last Contact: 6/4/1996

Orbit & Mass

Orbit Class: LEO
Altitude: 1,452.5 km
Inclination: 69.97 deg
Dry Mass: 261 kg
Total Mass: 261 kg

Payload Classification

Organizations

Operator: Space Test Program
Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman

Registry

COSPAR ID: 1994-046A
UN Registration: ST/SG/SER.E/278

Mentions

180

All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.

Apex CEO Ian Cinnamon stated that the company is funding Project Shadow independently.

FinancialPlanValue 3.0Oct 22, 2025Apex Set to Launch Commercial Interceptor Demo Next Year

During her time at Apex, Villa has scaled the company's commercial satellite business.

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As lead technician for Apex, Villa offers opinions on the satellite manufacturing process throughout the development timeline.

GeneralValue 0.8Oct 14, 2025Alexa Villa, Apex Space

A hub spacecraft located beyond L1 will serve as the apex of the pyramid, pointing toward the sun.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Oct 8, 2025We need a solar sail probe to detect space tornadoes earlier, more accurately

Apex acquired Phase Four’s Hall-effect thruster technology, including hardware and personnel.

RelationshipsValue 4.3Sep 22, 2025Quantum Space Acquires Phase Four’s Propulsion Tech

ispace’s Mission 3 debuts the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, is led by ispace-U.S., and is expected to launch in 2026.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.3Dec 19, 2024Taiwan Space Agency & ispace Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Strategic Collaboration

Mission 3 will debut the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, will be led by ispace-U.S., and is expected to launch in 2026.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.5Dec 18, 2024ispace Announces SMBC x HAKUTO-R Mission 2 Venture Moon Mission Milestones & Ventures

Mission 3 will debut the APEX 1.0 lunar lander and is led by ispace-U.S., with an expected launch in 2026.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.4Dec 17, 2024ispace Obtains License to Conduct Lunar Surface Operations from Japanese Government for Second Mission

ispace Mission 3, debuting the APEX 1.0 lunar lander and led by ispace-U.S., is expected to launch in 2026.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Dec 10, 2024ispace and Magna Petra Agree to Future Resources Exploration on the Moon’s Surface

ispace Mission 3 will debut the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, is led by ispace-U.S., and is expected to launch in 2026.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Dec 4, 2024ispace Signs Memorandum of Understanding with ONDO Space to Strategically Collaborate for Future Lunar Programs in Mongolia

ispace-U.S. is leading Mission 3, which will debut the APEX 1.0 lunar lander and is expected to launch in 2026.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.2Nov 27, 2024ispace Mission 2 RESILIENCE lunar lander Arrives in Florida for Final Launch Preparations

Mission 3 debuts the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, is led by ispace-U.S., and is expected to launch in 2026.

PlanCapabilityGrowthValue 4.5Nov 20, 2024ispace Leaders Applaud European Space Agency & Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Announcement on “Next Big Cooperations”

Mission 3, debuting the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, is led by ispace-U.S. and is expected to launch in 2026.

PlanValue 4.0Nov 14, 2024ispace-U.S. and Volta Space Technologies Agree to Collaborate on Future Development of Survive the Night Capability

Mission 3 will debut the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, is led by ispace-U.S., and is expected to launch in 2026.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.2Nov 12, 2024Kurita Water Becomes HAKUTO-R Corporate Partner

Mission 3, which will debut the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, is led by ispace-U.S. and is expected to launch in 2026.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Nov 12, 2024ispace Announces SMBC as Official HAKUTO-R Partner

Mission 3, debuting the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, is led by ispace-U.S. and is expected to launch in 2026.

PlanGeneralCapabilityValue 4.0Nov 12, 2024JINS Becomes HAKUTO-R Corporate Partner

Each of the two selected APEX proposals received $5,000,000 for one-year studies to refine their designs.

FinancialPlanValue 4.0Nov 7, 2024NASA defends selection of astrophysics probe mission proposals

NASA plans to pick one of the two APEX proposals in 2026 as the first probe-class mission for launch in 2032.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Nov 7, 2024NASA defends selection of astrophysics probe mission proposals

NASA set a $1,000,000,000 cost cap for the first APEX competition, excluding launch and any international contributions.

FinancialPlanValue 4.0Nov 7, 2024NASA defends selection of astrophysics probe mission proposals

NASA selected two proposals for further study for its Astrophysics Probe Explorer (APEX) program on 2024-10-03.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Nov 7, 2024NASA defends selection of astrophysics probe mission proposals