SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — In a significant step toward advancing space weather research, six small satellites engineered and tested in Logan, Utah, have successfully passed a crucial pre-launch milestone for NASA's SunRISE mission. This innovative mission, designed to detect solar radio bursts associated with potentially hazardous solar activity, indicates the critical role that Utah's engineering facilities are playing in the future of space exploration and safety. On January 20, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) announced that the six “toaster-oven-size” satellites, collectively known as the Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment (SunRISE), have completed an extensive test campaign at the Space Dynamics Laboratory at Utah State University. This testing included rigorous thermal vacuum simulations, electromagnetic compatibility assessments, and vibration tests intended to mimic the intense shaking the satellites will experience during launch. Jim Lux, the SunRISE project manager at JPL, emphasized the importance of these tests, stating, "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. Pre- and post-test functional checks were performed, and all six spacecraft aced them." This thorough testing process is essential to ensure that the satellites can withstand the harsh conditions of space while maintaining their operational integrity. The upcoming launch of the SunRISE satellites is scheduled to take place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The satellites will ride aboard a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket, a mission sponsored by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command. Following launch, the satellites will be positioned slightly above geosynchronous orbit, approximately 22,000 miles (35,000 kilometers) from Earth. Once in space, each satellite will deploy four telescoping antenna booms, each extending about 10 feet (2.5 meters). These six satellites are designed to operate in formation, flying in a configuration that allows them to be spaced up to 10 miles (16 kilometers) apart. By using a technique known as interferometry, scientists will be able to combine measurements from the satellites to create a more comprehensive understanding of solar radio bursts. Sue Lepri, the principal investigator for SunRISE at the University of Michigan, explained the significance of this research: "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." This recent achievement with the SunRISE mission comes at a pivotal time as NASA also prepares for its Artemis II mission, which is targeted for launch no earlier than February 6, 2026. Artemis II represents a groundbreaking step in human space exploration, as it will be the first crewed lunar flyby in over half a century. NASA has described this mission as a crucial test of the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft, with astronauts aboard for the first time. The Artemis II crew will travel farther from Earth and closer to the Moon than any humans have ventured in decades. Utah plays a vital role in the hardware and technology that support the Artemis program. According to NASA’s reference page on the Space Launch System Solid Rocket Boosters, the twin boosters are responsible for providing more than 75 percent of the total thrust at launch. These crucial components are manufactured by Northrop Grumman in Utah and are transported by train to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, highlighting the state’s importance in national space efforts. Additionally, Utah facilities are integral to the development of Orion's launch abort system. In April 2022, NASA reported that engineers successfully tested an abort motor designed by Northrop Grumman at their Promontory, Utah, facility, further demonstrating the state’s contributions to cutting-edge aerospace technology. As NASA’s missions continue to progress, the collaboration between local Utah institutions and national space agencies underscores the state’s growing prominence in the aerospace sector. With the successful testing of the SunRISE satellites and the upcoming Artemis II mission, Utah is firmly establishing itself as a pivotal hub for space exploration and research, paving the way for future scientific advancements and discoveries in our understanding of space weather and beyond.