Utah Labs Help Push NASA Missions SunRISE and Artemis II Toward Launch

Six small satellites built and tested in Logan have cleared a major pre-launch milestone for NASA's SunRISE mission, while Artemis II moves toward its targeted launch date.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 3:31pm

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NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced that six small satellites built and tested at Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory in Logan have completed a critical pre-launch test campaign for the SunRISE mission, which is designed to listen for solar radio bursts linked to hazardous space weather events. Meanwhile, NASA's next crewed moon mission, Artemis II, is also progressing toward a targeted launch no earlier than February 6, 2026, with key rocket hardware manufactured in Utah.

Why it matters

The successful testing of the SunRISE satellites is an important milestone for the mission, which aims to improve our understanding of solar weather and its potential impacts on astronauts and spacecraft. Additionally, Utah's central role in the development of the Artemis II rocket and spacecraft highlights the state's growing importance in the nation's space exploration efforts.

The details

The six 'toaster-oven-size' SunRISE spacecraft completed a rigorous test campaign at Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory, including thermal vacuum, electromagnetic compatibility, and vibration testing to simulate launch conditions. After launch, the satellites will deploy their antenna booms and fly in formation up to 10 miles apart, using interferometry to track solar radio bursts. Meanwhile, NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, is moving toward a targeted launch no earlier than February 6, 2026. Utah is central to the Artemis program, with Northrop Grumman manufacturing the solid rocket booster segments in the state and testing the Orion launch abort system at a facility in Promontory.

  • The SunRISE satellites completed pre-launch testing at Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory in January 2026.
  • NASA is targeting a launch for the Artemis II mission no earlier than February 6, 2026.

The players

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

The NASA center responsible for the SunRISE mission and overseeing the pre-launch testing of the satellites.

Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory

The facility in Logan, Utah where the SunRISE satellites were built and tested.

Northrop Grumman

The company that manufactures the solid rocket booster segments for the Space Launch System used in the Artemis II mission, with facilities in Utah.

NASA's Artemis II mission

The next crewed moon mission, which will test the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft with astronauts aboard.

Sue Lepri

The SunRISE principal investigator at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

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What they’re saying

“Each spacecraft was loaded with propellant to match launch mass and subjected to vibration testing in all three axes. The objective was to make the simulated vibrations as true to the conditions of launch as possible.”

— Jim Lux, SunRISE project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (townlift.com)

“Solar radio bursts are triggered after vast quantities of energy stored in the Sun's magnetic field accelerate solar particles to high speeds. Tracking these events will not only help space agencies mitigate their damaging effects on astronauts and spacecraft but will also add new science to our growing knowledge base of how space weather is generated and propagates throughout the solar system.”

— Sue Lepri, SunRISE principal investigator at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (townlift.com)

What’s next

NASA's Artemis II mission is targeted to launch no earlier than February 6, 2026, which will be the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.

The takeaway

Utah's role in supporting critical NASA missions like SunRISE and Artemis II highlights the state's growing importance in the nation's space exploration efforts, with local facilities and expertise playing a key part in advancing these groundbreaking projects.