BSLT 1, 2, 3

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BSLT 3 [Basalt Space]

BSLT 1, 2 and 3 are three 3U Cubesats developed by Basalt of San Francisco, California. Together they form the Spirit-EEL technology demonstration constellation, which is intended to validate the company's autonomous satellite operations workflow.

The mission will demonstrate software that enables satellites to conduct routine operations with little or no direct human intervention. Basalt aims to replace the conventional model of continuous ground-based spacecraft operations with an autonomous system capable of planning, monitoring and executing spacecraft activities. According to the company, dedicated satellite operators account for a large share of the lifetime operating costs of traditional space missions. Spirit-EEL is designed to become the first privately developed space mission to operate without dedicated human operators.

Each satellite carries an Earth observation payload consisting of an RGB and polarized imaging system with a ground sampling distance (GSD) of approximately 20 m. The constellation will use these payloads to support in-orbit validation of the autonomous operations software while also demonstrating coordinated operations between multiple spacecraft.

The mission serves as a pathfinder for future autonomous satellite constellations that require minimal operational support from the ground.