Science

AEROCUBE 7

CubeSat Technology Demonstrator (Optical Comms + Water Propulsion — Multiple Firsts) · The Aerospace Corporation

A milestone AeroCube mission that achieved three genuine spaceflight firsts for a CubeSat: the first space-to-ground optical (laser) communication link from a satellite this small, the first water-based propulsion system, and the first propulsion system to meet International Space Station safety standards for close-proximity operations. Water propulsion — using electrolysis to split H2O into hydrogen and oxygen propellant on demand — offered a uniquely safe, non-toxic thruster option for small satellites that might need to operate near crewed spacecraft.