Dove 1, 2

The Dove-1 mission is a technology demonstration nanosatellite based on the triple CubeSat form factor:

The goal of the mission is:

• build a low-cost imaging satellite with non-space, COTS components;
• to show that a bus constrained to the 3U cubesat form factor can viably host a small camera payload; and
• demonstrate the ability to design, produce and operate satellites on short schedules and low cost.

Dove-1 will do this by transmitting health and image data to the ground.

The satellite will be launchd as a secondary payload on the maiden flight of the Antares-110 launch vehicle in 2012.

The Dove 2 mission is also an internal company technology demonstration experiment to test the capabilities of a low-cost spacecraft constrained to the 3U cubesat form factor to host a small payload. It will be launched in 2012 as a piggyback payload on a Soyuz-2-1b launch.