Rocket Lab and NASA Test a Brand-New Satellite Shape in Orbit

Image from Spacenews

On December 18, 2025, a Rocket Lab Electron rocket carried four DiskSat spacecraft into low Earth orbit from Wallops Island, Virginia as part of the U.S. Space Force’s STP-S30 mission. These flat, disc-shaped satellites are unlike traditional boxy CubeSats and were developed to explore new ways of building small spacecraft that can operate effectively in very low orbits. The mission was a collaboration between Rocket Lab, NASA’s Small Spacecraft & Distributed Systems program, and The Aerospace Corporation, pushing forward small satellite capabilities. DiskSats are just 40 inches across and only about an inch thick yet pack power and surface area for high-performance instruments. This demonstration aims to prove that alternative satellite geometries can broaden scientific and military mission profiles in orbit. Success here could change how future constellations and experimental payloads are designed and deployed.

DiskSat’s Design and Potential

The DiskSat concept focuses on maximizing surface area while minimizing mass, giving engineers more layout space for solar cells, antennas, sensors, and communications gear compared with similar-mass CubeSats. Its flat shape reduces atmospheric drag, letting the satellite remain in very low Earth orbit longer without rapid decay, which expands possible mission types. A new containerized dispenser was used to safely release the DiskSats into orbit after launch, showcasing both mechanical precision and innovative spacecraft packaging for non-traditional shapes. Each satellite will demonstrate power generation, communications performance, and maneuverability while transmitting data back to Earth. Engineers will observe how this unusual form factor behaves in orbit, giving designers real data to refine future small satellite architectures. This effort also highlights how space agencies can experiment with bold new designs to support diverse scientific, Earth-observation, and defense objectives.