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GreenC bot (talk | contribs) Rescued 1 archive link; reformat 2 citations per WP:USURPURL and WP:JUDI. Wayback Medic 2.5 |
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In 1988, the '''Small Explorer (SMEX)''' class was established with a focus on frequent flight opportunities for highly focused and relatively inexpensive space science missions in the disciplines of astrophysics and space physics.<ref name=NASAhistory>{{cite book|last=Rumerman|first=Judy A.|url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4012v7ch4.pdf|title=NASA Historical Data Book, Vol. VII: NASA Launch Systems, Space Transportation, Human Spaceflight, and Space Science, 1989-1998|publisher=NASA|date=2009|access-date=24 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/pdf/106477main_smex.pdf |title=NASA's Small Explorer Program: Faster, Better, Cheaper|work=Goddard Space Flight Center|publisher=NASA|date=January 1998|access-date=24 June 2019}}</ref> The first three SMEX missions were chosen in April 1989 out of 51 candidates, and launched in 1992, 1996 and 1998<ref name=IEEE>{{cite conference|title=SAMPEX: NASA's First Small Explorer Satellite|conference=IEEE Aerospace Conference 21–28 March 1998 Aspen, Colorado|first1=G. M.|last1=Mason|first2=D. N.|last2=Baker|first3=J. B.|last3=Blake|first4=R. E.|last4=Boughner|first5=L. B.|last5=Callis|display-authors=et al.|volume=5|pages=389–412|date=1998 |doi=10.1109/AERO.1998.685848}}</ref> The second set of two missions were announced in September 1994 and launched in 1998 and 1999.<ref name=NASAhistory/>
In the mid 1990s, NASA initiated the '''Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX)''' to enable more frequent flights. These are larger than SMEX missions and were to be launched aboard a new kind of medium-light class launch vehicle.<ref name=NASAhistory/> This new launch vehicle was not developed and instead, these missions were flown on a modified [[Delta II]] rocket.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ed Kyle |url=http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/delta2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325164354/http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/delta2.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=25 March 2010|title=Delta II Data Sheet|publisher=Spacelaunchreport.com|access-date=2018-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://aviationweek.com/awin/nasa-taps-mcdonnell-med-lite-launches|title=NASA Taps Mcdonnell For Med-Lite Launches|magazine=Aviation Week|date=1996-03-04|access-date=2018-04-28}}</ref> The first announcement opportunity for MIDEX was issued in March 1995, and the first launch under this new class was [[Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer|FUSE]] in 1999.<ref name=NASAhistory/>
In May 1994, NASA started the '''Student Explorer Demonstration Initiative''' (STEDI) pilot program, to demonstrate that high-quality space science can be carried out with small, low-cost missions. Of the three selected missions, SNOE was launched in 1998 and TERRIERS in 1999, but the latter failed after launch. The STEDI program was terminated in 2001.<ref name=NASAhistory/> Later, NASA established the '''University-Class Explorer''' (UNEX) program for much cheaper missions, which is regarded as a successor to STEDI.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.stanford.edu/~sbuchman/publications-PDF/The%20Large%20Benefits%20of%20Small%20Satellite%20Missions.pdf|title=The Large Benefits of Small Satellite Missions|access-date=2018-04-28}}</ref>
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| April 2025<ref>{{cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-spacex-for-rideshare-launch-of-smallsat-mission/ |title=NASA selects SpaceX for rideshare launch of smallsat mission |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=30 September 2023 |access-date=1 October 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231219234720/https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-spacex-for-rideshare-launch-of-smallsat-mission/ |archive-date= 19
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