The first Sputnik satellite was spherical in shape with four long antennas, with its launch starting the space war between the United States and the USSR. Model satellites are usually box-shaped to maximize the use of a satellite's space. This afternoon, NASA successfully launched four "pieces" of DiskSat, each of which looks like a UFO flying saucer.
DiskSat is an evolution of the cube-shaped CubeSAT launched by UITM in 2018. Researchers found that although the small-sized CubeSat makes it easier to launch several satellites simultaneously, it has issues generating enough electrical power for electronic systems due to the small size of the solar panels.
With a saucer-shaped satellite, larger solar panels can be used and it can generate the necessary electricity supply. This saucer-shaped satellite was developed by Aerospace Corporation by reusing existing CubeSat components.
With its out-of-the-box design, not only does it provide higher power but also has lower air resistance. When coupled with electric engines, DiskSat can operate at altitudes below 300 km above the Earth's surface.
Today's launch was carried out with four DiskSats, each 1 meter wide and 2.5 cm thick, using a rocket owned by Rocket Lab USA, Inc. in Long Beach California. Each DiskSat prototype is built using carbon fiber and aluminum with a honeycomb-like core.