Today, we’ve got some exciting updates about NASA’s latest collaboration with SpaceX. Let’s dive right in!
NASA has awarded SpaceX a contract to launch the Compton Spectrometer and Imager, or COSI, spacecraft. This small Explorer-class mission is set to take off on a Falcon 9 rocket in 2027. The contract, valued at a cool $69 million, covers the launch and all related activities. This is a huge win for SpaceX and a significant step forward for gamma-ray astronomy!
So, what exactly is COSI? This fascinating spacecraft will detect soft gamma rays from sources both within our galaxy and beyond. It’s designed to study phenomena such as the annihilation of positrons in the Milky Way. The instrument on COSI is based on a version that was previously flown on high-altitude balloons, and now it’s ready to take its mission to the next level-space!
Originally, NASA selected COSI in 2021 as part of the SMEX program, with an estimated cost of $145 million, not including the launch. The mission was initially slated for a 2025 launch, but due to budget constraints, NASA extended its design phase to reduce near-term costs, pushing the launch date to 2027.