Quark-Lite / Gluon

Quark-Lite and Gluon [Atomos Space]

The Quark-Lite and Gluon, is a demonstration mission developed by Atomos Space, to demonstrate their OTV and payload module concept.

The vehicles, Quark and Gluon, will perform rendezvous, docking, refueling, and orbital transfer. This demonstration mission, dubbed The Singing Astronomer (after astronomer and opera singer Caroline Herschel, the first woman to receive a salary as a scientist) will pave the way for Atomos’s Quark Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV). Quark will provide in-space services such as orbit raising, satellite life extension, cargo delivery to space stations, and refueling.

Atomos’s approach to space logistics is to use “space resident” OTVs.

The Singing Astronomer mission will see the Quark OTV launch with a target spacecraft, Gluon, on SpaceX’s Transporter 10 in February of 2024. After separation from the launch vehicle, the two spacecraft will move through their paces, with Quark rendezvousing and docking autonomously to Gluon. Once docked, Quark will refuel from Gluon, before commencing further release, docking, propulsive, and orbital transfer demonstrations. This demonstration follows the method Atomos will use for deploying large constellations, with multiple client payloads integrated to the Gluon pallet for launch to accelerate and simplify their capture by Quark in orbit. This mission will test Atomos’s integrated hardware and software developments, foundational for high delta-V orbital transfers and life extension of satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO).