UARX Space troubleshoots OSSIE‑D comms Glitch after rideshare launch

UARX Space was named an ESA Rising Star in November 2025 and received dual‑use certification from the Spanish Ministry of Defense for its OSSIE orbital transfer vehicle, according to satnews.com.

Once the link was reestablished, UARX performed routine health checks on the vehicle and confirmed normal operation, according to Andrés Villa Granata. He said UARX decided to send a backup command to the OTV two days after launch to enable fault detection, isolation and recovery automation that would deploy payloads without ground‑station intervention, noting the backup command was intended to trigger autonomous payload release if the vehicle could not be contacted, protecting customer missions given the spacecraft’s limited battery life. UARX transmitted the command on October 3, 2026.

Andrés Villa Granata said UARX sent the payload‑deployment command two days after launch but, without reliable two‑way communication, could not confirm whether they had received the command, leaving uncertainty about payload release until communications were restored. After communications were restored, Andrés Villa Granata said telemetry showed they had received the two‑day‑old deployment command correctly and they executed all commanded deployments as planned, and that UARX woke up the sequencer (the onboard sequencer that stores deployment commands) from its ultra‑low‑power mode to download deployment telemetry once the link was back.

By October 15, ten OSSIE‑D PocketQubes (a tiny satellite format) had been deployed and contacted by customers, while additional payloads remain aboard the vehicle for future release, Andrés Villa Granata said. The deployed units have been reached by their owners, and the remaining hardware awaits later release opportunities. AMSAT‑Deutschland’s October 4 post said the deployment sequence for its OSSIE‑D PocketQube (a tiny satellite format) payload began on October 2, 2026 at 1:48:09.950 p.m. CEST, earlier than originally planned. The nonprofit did not anticipate the early release, so no ground stations were listening to the frequencies initially.

Peter Gulzow, president of AMSAT‑Deutschland, said two of their three ERMINAZ‑2 PocketQubes (ERMINAZ‑2U and ERMINAZ‑2V) are operating and under commissioning, while the third (ERMINAZ‑2X) status is unknown because no signal has been acquired. AMSAT‑Deutschland reported that it sent three PocketQubes (ERMINAZ‑2U, ERMINAZ‑2V, ERMINAZ‑2X) into orbit on OSSIE‑D. AMSAT‑Deutschland stated that signals from its ERMINAZ satellites went unheard initially because no one had been listening to the transmission frequencies. Peter Gulzow said all three ERMINAZ‑2 PocketQubes were successfully released from the Picobus Deployer supplied by Libre Space Foundation on OSSIE‑D.

According to SpaceNews reporting, OSSIE‑D carried PocketQubes built by the Libre Space Foundation, Orion Space of Nepal, Argentina’s National Technological University – Haedo Regional Faculty, the National University of La Plata, and Ethereal Space. The small satellites launched alongside the OTV’s own demonstration hardware included these payloads. Gustavo Carpignano, CEO of DIYSatellite, said the company supplied PocketQube dispensers for OSSIE‑D and expects to deploy its satellites in the coming weeks, after which it can assess the deployer’s performance. SpaceNews reported that DIYSatellite supplied the PocketQube dispensers for OSSIE‑D and arranged flights for its customers.

Gustavo Carpignano said the mission continues according to the planned timeline and expects to deploy satellites in the coming weeks. UARX co‑founders declined to comment on the status of other satellites launched inside OSSIE‑D. When asked about the fate of the remaining payloads still aboard the orbital transfer vehicle, the founders of UARX chose not to provide any details.

UARX announced on Instagram that it integrated two three‑unit CubeSats from Ethereal Space within RAMI, the CubeSat deployment system, from where they will be deployed into orbit to begin their mission. Shawn Cochran said spaceflight is inherently challenging and not every mission milestone unfolds as originally anticipated.

Shawn Cochran said Ethereal Space remains committed to building a reliable operational space‑weather observing capability. Shawn Cochran said Ethereal Space is confident in its technology, team, and the importance of providing high‑quality space‑weather observations to government and commercial customers.

Andrés Villa Granata said the first flight of OSSIE‑D demonstrated UARX’s deployment rings SAU&RON 24 inch and SAU&RON 15 inch. SpaceNews reported that OSSIE‑D’s launch schedule called for deploying satellites seven and 30 days after launch.

Satnews.com said UARX’s work on vertical integration and its sovereign European manufacturing earned the vehicle dual‑use certification from the Spanish Ministry of Defense, allowing civil and national security missions. The company’s reliance on European‑sourced design and production helped secure that approval. Satnews.com added that this approach addresses the Sovereign‑Commercial Nexus by offering a European‑owned launch option that reduces dependence on non‑European providers.

Satnews.com explained that after years of stealth development, UARX moved to full operational status, pointing to its separation systems, which have achieved TRL 9 with demonstrated flight heritage. Satnews.com said UARX is aiming for an early‑2026 launch window for the OSSIE’s inaugural flight, which it expects to occur in the first months of that year.

Satnews.com said the OSSIE OTV’s main thrust comes from an Integrated SatDrive green propulsion system provided by Dawn Aerospace, a green chemical propellant. Satnews.com and SpaceNews noted that OSSIE‑D is the first orbital transfer vehicle that carries Dawn Aerospace’s docking and fluidic transfer port, opening the possibility for future on‑orbit refueling and life‑extension work. Satnews.com said the OSSIE OTV adopts the cPCI Serial Space open standard for its avionics, using an open‑standard bus to promote reliable subsystem communication. Satnews.com said the separation system relies on flight‑qualified SAU&RON rings that appear in international space catalogs.

Satnews.com noted that DHV Technology is integrating the OSSIE flight model, having installed the power subsystem by the close of 2025. Satnews.com said the flight will check the structural integrity of Dawn Aerospace’s docking port and the performance of the SAU&RON separation rings when many payloads are released, supporting regular logistics and future lunar missions. Satnews.com described the OSSIE OTV as a high‑reliability cargo and deployment vehicle capable of operating from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond, with the goal of transporting small spacecraft to lunar orbit and other destinations.

According to Gunter’s Space Page, OSSIE can carry PocketQubes, CubeSats ranging from one‑quarter unit to 12 units, and other small satellites with masses from about 250 grams to 250 kilograms. This allows a broad mix of small spacecraft, from the smallest PocketQubes to larger CubeSats and other smallsats within that weight range. Gunter’s Space Page said customers can use UARX‑supplied deployers, third‑party ejectors, or attach their spacecraft to 8‑inch, 15‑inch or 24‑inch separation rings.

Gunter’s Space Page noted that payloads staying on the vehicle can tap into its electrical power and data links, allowing them to operate while attached. Gunter’s Space Page explained that OSSIE duplicates its avionics, communications and storage units for fault tolerance, while maintaining a single‑string layout with selective redundancy.

Gunter’s Space Page said the vehicle suits low Earth orbit operations, moving payloads from geostationary transfer orbit to geostationary orbit, and supporting trans‑lunar injection trajectories. Gunter’s Space Page added that common tasks for OSSIE include lifting or lowering deployment orbits, adjusting inclination to preserve sun‑synchronous geometry, and spacing satellites in a constellation at regular intervals.