Contract Selection and Pricing Structure
NASA officially selected SpaceX to provide launch services for the StarBurst mission, a decision announced on September 17, 2026. The selection is structured as a firm-fixed-price task order under NASA’s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. This specific contractual framework allows for dedicated or rideshare opportunities within a fixed budgetary scope.
Launch Vehicle and Site Details
The satellite is scheduled to fly aboard a Bandwagon rideshare mission on a Falcon 9 rocket. The launch will originate from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA has designated the earliest possible launch window as no earlier than 2028, providing a multi-year preparation period for the mission.
Scientific Objectives and Mission Scope
StarBurst is designed as a wide-field gamma-ray observatory to detect the initial emission of short gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs). These high-energy events serve as critical electromagnetic indicators of neutron star mergers, dense stellar remnants that produce significant gravitational wave signals. The mission aims to investigate the origins of these bursts and their connection to neutron star collisions.
Orbital Parameters and Mission Duration
As a SmallSat, StarBurst is planned for insertion into Low Earth Orbit using the ESPA Grande interface. The mission duration is specified as one year, with operational activities potentially beginning in 2027 according to earlier planning documents. This short-duration design focuses on rapid data collection during its active phase. The mission targets a period where only one such event has been observed simultaneously in gravitational waves and gamma rays to date. StarBurst aims to detect up to 10 events annually, aligning with LIGO's O5 observing run.
Contract Release and Mission Designation
The launch services award was formally documented under Contract Release C26-012, issued by NASA Headquarters on September 17, 2026. This specific release number provides a traceable administrative reference for the firm-fixed-price task order granted to SpaceX. The mission is officially designated as the StarBurst Multimessenger Pioneer, a title that reflects its role in combining electromagnetic observations with gravitational wave data from neutron star mergers.
Multimessenger Context and Detection Targets
The mission operates within a specific multimessenger framework where electromagnetic observations complement gravitational wave data. To date, only one neutron star merger event has been observed simultaneously in both gravitational waves and gamma rays, highlighting the rarity of such dual detections. StarBurst is designed to address this observational gap by targeting up to 10 events annually during its operational phase.
Operational Timeline and LIGO Alignment
Earlier planning documents indicate a target launch date of Summer 2027, which is strategically aligned with the LIGO O5 observing run. This timing allows for coordinated data collection between the gamma-ray observatory and ground-based gravitational wave detectors. The one-year mission duration begins in 2027 according to these initial specifications, though the formal launch window remains no earlier than 2028.