DGCE SIG Seminar, 22 Oct 2026
Pioneering Emission Mapping of the CGM with Aspera: The Path to Launch. Speaker: Dr. Carlos Varga, University of Arizona & Steward Observatory The post DGCE SIG Seminar, 22 Oct 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
The DGCE SIG Seminar, held on 22 October 2026, focused on the Cosmic Origins Community's "Pioneering Emission Mapping of the CGM with Aspera: The Path to Launch" seminar. The guest speaker was Dr. Carlos J. Vargas from the University of Arizona and Steward Observatory.
Aspera is a FUV SmallSat mission selected for NASA's inaugural Pioneers Program. This satellite is designed to detect and map warm-hot cosmic gas emission in nearby galaxies for the first time, through the O VI emission line doublet at 1032 A. By utilizing a FUV SmallSat, the mission demonstrates a cost-effective approach to space-based observatories while building a student training pipeline for future scientists and engineers.
The Aspera payload has been fully assembled, tested, and shipped to UTIAS SFL (spacecraft vendor) in mid-2026. Post-integration and testing, the observatory-level vibration and thermal-vacuum (TVAC) testing were completed in September 2026. Aspera is now in final preparation for its launch, scheduled for January 29, 2027, from Mahia, New Zealand, on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket.
The seminar provided an update on the mission's progress, highlighting the technical challenges encountered and overcome during flight instrument assembly and testing. The focus moved towards the upcoming primary science campaign, which commences post-launch commissioning.
Written by urgent.news from NASA Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
