NASA · Space

NASA Selects SpaceX for StarBurst Mission Launch

NASA has chosen SpaceX to provide launch services for its StarBurst mission, a small satellite aimed at studying neutron star mergers and the origins of short gamma-ray bursts.

The StarBurst satellite will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of a rideshare mission, scheduled for no earlier than 2028 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

This launch service is procured under NASA's VADR contract, a flexible agreement allowing the agency to acquire launch services over a 10-year period.

The StarBurst mission is designed to scan the entire sky, excluding areas blocked by Earth, to detect brief, intense explosions known as gamma-ray bursts.

It will specifically focus on capturing the initial high-energy emissions from short gamma-ray bursts, which are associated with the merging of neutron stars.

By integrating StarBurst's data with gravitational-wave measurements and observations from other telescopes, scientists aim to study these cosmic events using multimessenger astronomy.

StarBurst is part of NASA's Astrophysics Pioneers Program, which supports cost-effective scientific investigations utilizing small spacecraft.

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