Momentus (www.momentus.space), provider of in-space transportation services for satellites, today announced a launch service agreement with Singapore-based companies, NuSpace and Aliena. Momentus' Vigoride orbital transfer vehicle will carry the NuX-1 3U nanosatellite to its final orbit, after launching onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg, California during the first quarter of 2021.

NuX-1 will demonstrate autonomous orbit control maneuvers using Aliena's ultra-low power miniature Hall-thruster. This is a first for CubeSats of that size. It will use NuSpace's Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) for autonomous orbit control system. The nanosatellite will also carry an Internet-of-Things (IoT) payload for NuSpace and constitute the pathfinder for NuSpace's planned IoT constellation.

The solution offered by Momentus provides orbit phasing for constellations that are launched from a single rocket. It reduces the propulsion requirements on satellites and reduces the amount of propellant, weight and cost of each satellite.