Monolith

Monolith is an USAF Research Laboratory (AFRL) microsatellite mission for technology demonstration.

The mission is managed by the Space Test Program. The satellite will be used test the ability of small bus sizes to support large aperture payloads. In this case, a space weather instrument package will be carried.

The satellite will explore and demonstrate the use of a deployable sensor, where the sensor’s mass is a substantial fraction of the total mass of the spacecraft, changing the spacecraft’s dynamic properties and testing ability to maintain spacecraft attitude control. Analysis from the use of a deployable sensor aims to enable the use of smaller satellite buses when building future deployable sensors such as weather satellites, thereby reducing the cost, complexity, and development timelines. The satellite will also provide a platform to test future space protection capabilities.

It will be launched on a Rocket Lab USA Electron KS rocket on the STP-27RM mission. This was orginally to be on the maiden flight from the second launch pad at Wallops Island, but has been transferred to the Mahia launchj site in New Zealand.