A truly unique concept is underway, Asgardia aims to be Earth’s first extraterrestrial nation. This all becomes apparent when you access the Asgardia website. You are welcomed to Asgardia, the first ever space nation — a global, unifying and humanitarian project. The project's concept comprises three parts — philosophical, legal and scientific/technological. Add to this NearSpace Launch Inc. is manufacturing, via a contract with NanoRacks LLC, the satellite for the Asgardia-1 Mission which will launch in the fall of this year.
Asgardia 1 [Asgardia Space]
With over 200,000 citizens around the globe and a pending request for national status with the UN, Asgardia aims to be Earth’s first extraterrestrial nation. Asgardia partnered with NanoRacks, a leading provider of commercial access to low-Earth orbit, to manufacture and oversee the satellite mission that will enable Asgardia to make its debut in space.
NanoRacks selected NSL to build the satellite because of previous mission success, integrity, and quick turnaround time. The satellite is designed to carry a payload of energetic particle sensors, and a 512GB hard drive which contains the beginnings of Asgardian space presence. The satellite’s dimensions will measure roughly 10x10x22cm.
Dr. Igor Ashurbeyli, Founder Asgardia AG and Asgardia NGO.
NSL’s unique payload will enable regular communication between Earth and the Asgardian’s satellite through our EyeStar S2 Simplex and Duplex radios and Globalstar’s 30 satellite constellation, regardless of the satellite’s position in orbit. This satellite will come after six consecutive successful space missions from NSL, which have served a variety of scientific purposes and communities worldwide.
NSL Chief Engineer Jeff Dailey said that he is enthusiastic about the concept of inspiring people to have a more active and critical role in global space awareness, exploration, education and problem solving.
NanoRacks Director of Houston Operations, Marcia Blount added that NSL has been a strategic vendor to NanoRacks in the Asgardia-1 program. Their services align with their turnkey solution they offered to Asgardia, and they look forward to bringing the first space nation’s satellite to orbit in near record time.
The satellite, Asgardia-1 is slated to be launched on an Orbital ATK rocket to the International Space Station this Fall. The satellite will then deployed from the External Cygnus NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer, mounted on the outside of the Cygnus spacecraft. The satellite will be deployed from Cygnus after the vehicle departs from its primary mission at the Space Station.