LICIACube Named AIAA Small Satellite Mission of the Year

LICIACube, designed, built and operated by Argotec, has been named AIAA Small Satellite Mission of the Year for its pioneering mission to further space science and the capabilities of small satellites.

“With LICIACube, we once again demonstrated the incredible performance and reliability of our platform.”

David Avino, Argotec

Announced annually at the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) and Utah State University Small Satellite Conference, this award recognizes missions that demonstrate a significant improvement in the capability of small satellites.

LICIACube, funded by the Italian Space Agency, was part of NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission, the first attempt to target, impact and move an asteroid in space, in September 2022. The microsatellite was the only secondary mission aboard NASA DART, and its objective was to document the impact between the DART probe and the asteroid Dimorphos. LICIACube is the first deep space small satellite to attempt such a mission.

LICIACube Captured Photos Flying at 4.35 MPS

Argotec’s Mission Control Center recorded LICIACube performing an asteroid fly-by at 4.35 miles per second, or more than 15,650 mph, under fully autonomous navigation. It took 627 photos showing debris streaming from Dimorphos.

“With LICIACube, we once again demonstrated the incredible performance and reliability of our platform,” said David Avino, Argotec CEO and founder. “This award recognizes the hard work and technical expertise of the Argotec team. And we are excited for our continued work on projects and missions in LEO and deep space, especially as we expand our presence in the United States.”

Argotec recently announced a multimillion-dollar investment to start operations and build its facility in Largo, Maryland. The AIAA award speaks to Argotec’s commitment and the results the company is already achieving in the U.S. market.

Furthermore, Argotec has begun construction on its new SpacePark in Turin, Italy, to be completed in early 2025. The new facility will include nearly 120,000 square feet of covered space for a highly automated production plant and more than 180,000 square feet of green space as part of Argotec’s commitment to sustainability.

(Source: Argotech news release. Images provided by Argotech and from file)