Terminus is working on a new experiment called ELARA! The team is working to fly the experiment in August 2026 from NASA Wallops Flight Facility. 

This cycle, we will be improving our reusable spacecraft bus, JUPITER, flown in 2024 (and soon 2025). Additionally, our experiment (ELARA) is researching the viability of an in-space two node interferometry array for the use of radio astronomy. Accompanying this experiment are two additional experiments, InfraTracker and GUARD II. InfraTracker, which was under development last year, is researching the effectiveness of near infrared and visible star trackers. GUARD II, a continuation of last year's research, is researching the effects of ambient in-space radiation on human spaceflight.

What is NASA's RockSat-X Program? 

NASA Wallops runs a yearly university program to allow students to design, build, and fly a sounding rocket payload. It is a selective program with schools around the country. Conceptual experiment ideas are submitted in September, and design reviews with the NASA team are conducted about once a month. Teams are selected for spots in December and fly the next August. For more information, view their website.

Terminus is about to fly its third spacecraft called AMALTHEA! It is scheduled to be launched August 12th, 2025 from NASA Wallops Flight Facility. 

This payload includes the second flight of Terminus' reusable spacecraft bus called JUPITER. This payload houses two experiments: ICARUS and GUARD. ICARUS is a 1.5U CubeSat-like deployable studying in-space and in atmospheric re-entry power generation with solar energy and heat created from re-entry drag. GUARD is flying samples of E. coli and P. aeruginosa to study the affects of short-term space exposure on bacteria. Also during this cycle, another experiment called InfraTracker was developed, researching the effectiveness of near infrared and visible star trackers.

Terminus flew its second spacecraft called ADRASTEA! It launched August 13,  2024 from NASA Wallops Flight Facility. It was the first demo flight of Terminus' reusable spacecraft bus called JUPITER, and demonstrated various experimental technologies associated with CubeSats and small space payload deployments. Its successor mission, AMALTHEA, has inherited core design principles from this mission to support new goals: deploying a new CubeSat-based re-entry vehicle capable of power generation through re-entry heating, along with support for two secondary experiments.

Terminus is one of the newest project teams in SHC with one lofty goal: getting back to space! Participating in a variety of programs and launch opportunities, Terminus members build payloads to be launched on rockets, giving the unbeatable chance to build, integrate, and fly your very own space hardware. Payloads made within Terminus are sent to destinations anywhere between suborbital space and the surface of the moon!