NASA Awards Launch Services for StarBurst Gamma-Ray Detector

NASA has awarded SpaceX a firm-fixed-price contract to launch the StarBurst mission, a small satellite designed to detect short gamma-ray bursts and neutron star mergers. The satellite will launch on a Bandwagon rideshare mission using a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission is scheduled for no earlier than 2028, with the launch services procured under NASA’s VADR contract. This contract allows NASA to order launches over a 10-year period with a potential total value of up to $1 billion across multiple missions.

StarBurst’s primary objective is to observe the entire unobstructed sky to identify brief, high-energy gamma-ray bursts. The satellite will focus on capturing the initial emission from short gamma-ray bursts, which occur during neutron star mergers. These observations will help researchers understand the origins of such cosmic events. The mission is part of NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers Program, which funds smaller, cost-effective space investigations using small spacecraft.

The mission will employ multimessenger astronomy by combining StarBurst’s gamma-ray data with gravitational-wave measurements and follow-up observations from other telescopes. This approach allows scientists to study neutron star mergers and gamma-ray bursts through multiple types of signals, enhancing data accuracy and depth. The collaboration aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of these high-energy astrophysical phenomena.

NASA’s Launch Services Program Office at Kennedy Space Center in Florida manages the VADR contract, which includes the StarBurst launch. The contract supports NASA’s strategy to acquire launch services efficiently while maintaining flexibility for future missions. The StarBurst mission represents a step toward advancing astrophysical research through targeted, small-scale satellite missions.