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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
Mission Type
Technology Demonstration
Payload Category
TECH
Payload Class
D
Organizations
Operator
Space Test Program
Manufacturer
Northrop Grumman
Registry
COSPAR ID
1994-046A
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/278
Track
Mentions
180
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
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Mission 3, which debuts the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, is led by ispace-U.S. and is expected to launch in 2026.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Oct 18, 2024ispace-U.S. and Astroport Agree to Collaborate on Future Delivery of Astroport’s Science Instruments for Lunar Regolith Research
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ispace-U.S. and Astroport signed a memorandum of understanding that serves as an initial framework for negotiations on missions to deliver and deploy Astroport’s scientific instruments to the lunar surface by the APEX 1.0 lander.

RelationshipsPlanCapabilityValue 4.3Oct 18, 2024ispace-U.S. and Astroport Agree to Collaborate on Future Delivery of Astroport’s Science Instruments for Lunar Regolith Research

ispace Mission 3 is led by ispace-U.S. and will debut the APEX 1.0 lunar lander.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Oct 17, 2024ispace and HEX20 Agree to Collaborate on Future Satellite Delivery to Lunar Orbit

The APEX 1.0 surface mission is designed to fulfill the Draper-led Commercial Lunar Payload Services Task Order CP-12 by delivering NASA payloads to the lunar surface for scientific investigations.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.2Oct 16, 2024Introducing ispace-U.S.’s Relay Satellites Alpine and Lupine

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

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jul 25, 2024ispace-EUROPE announces Completion of First European Designed, Manufactured, and Assembled Lunar Micro Rover

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

PlanCapabilityValue 4.2Jul 12, 2024ispace Secures Approximately $62 Million USD in New Financing

APEX 1.0 is the lunar lander that ispace-U.S. will use for Mission 3.

GeneralPlanValue 3.0Jun 25, 2024ispace-U.S. to use Swedish Space Corporation’s Lunar Ground Station Network for its M3 Lunar Mission

ispace technologies U.S., Inc. (ispace-U.S.) and Swedish Space Corporation (SSC Space US) have signed a collaboration agreement for ispace-U.S.’s upcoming Mission 3 with the APEX 1.0 lunar lander.

RelationshipsPlanCapabilityValue 4.0Jun 25, 2024ispace-U.S. to use Swedish Space Corporation’s Lunar Ground Station Network for its M3 Lunar Mission

Apex raised $95,000,000 in a Series B funding round to ramp up production of productized satellite buses.

FinancialGrowthCapabilityValue 4.0Jun 12, 2024Apex raises $95 million to increase satellite bus production

Apex will use the Series B funding to accelerate production of its Aries satellite bus and to develop larger models called Nova and Comet.

FinancialCapabilityGrowthValue 4.0Jun 12, 2024Apex raises $95 million to increase satellite bus production

Apex announced its Series B funding round on 2024-06-12.

FinancialValue 2.4Jun 12, 2024Apex raises $95 million to increase satellite bus production

Apex plans to start producing Nova buses in 2025 with two Nova buses expected to be completed and launched that year.

PlanCapabilityGrowthValue 4.0Jun 12, 2024Apex raises $95 million to increase satellite bus production

The Sparrow optical payload captured its first in-space calibration image on 2024-05-30 at 06:25 GMT while onboard the Apex Aries satellite bus.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0May 30, 2024Scout Space’s “Sparrow” first in-space image to provide space security and Space Domain Awareness

Sparrow launched aboard the Apex Aries bus on the SpaceX Transporter-10 mission in March 2024.

PlanValue 4.0May 30, 2024Scout Space’s “Sparrow” first in-space image to provide space security and Space Domain Awareness

ispace U.S. is developing the APEX 1.0 lander under a contract with Draper for a NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services mission in 2026 designated M3 by ispace.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.6May 11, 2024Lunar lander company ispace sees opportunities in Japan-U.S. Artemis agreement

ispace-U.S.’s APEX 1.0 lunar lander is designed and built in the U.S.

CapabilityValue 3.2Apr 25, 2024ispace-U.S. Announces Official Launch of Data Relay Service Enabled by Two Relay Satellites

The APEX 1.0 lunar lander is designed to support the Draper-led Commercial Lunar Payload Services Task Order CP-12 by delivering NASA payloads to the lunar surface for scientific investigations.

CapabilityRelationshipsPlanValue 4.0Apr 25, 2024ispace-U.S. Announces Official Launch of Data Relay Service Enabled by Two Relay Satellites

ispace-U.S. plans to progressively increase the APEX series payload capacity to eventually reach a payload capacity of 500 kg to the lunar surface.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Apr 25, 2024ispace-U.S. Announces Official Launch of Data Relay Service Enabled by Two Relay Satellites

APEX 1.0 is designed to deliver ten times more payload to the lunar surface compared to earlier ispace missions.

CapabilityValue 4.0Apr 25, 2024ispace-U.S. Announces Official Launch of Data Relay Service Enabled by Two Relay Satellites

ispace plans to progressively increase the APEX series payload capacity, eventually reaching 500 kg to the lunar surface.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Apr 10, 2024ispace-U.S. to use RTX’s Blue Canyon Technologies Spacecraft Bus for Lunar Far Side Communications Relay Satellites