Hēki radiation detector experiment captures solar flare data
Hēki’s radiation detector experiment has now captured over seven weeks of data at a variety of magnetic fields, including data…
Kia ora and welcome to the Paihau—Robinson Space Team blog, where we’ll have status updates from the Hēki/Kōkako Mission (and other interesting news from our team)! We’ll post here regularly to communicate the mission’s progress and challenges.
Thank you for visiting… If you’d like to receive updates when a new story is posted, please subscribe at the bottom of the page.
We look forward to sharing our work and our team with you, and we welcome your questions and comments on the stories we post!
Hēki experiences unplanned power cycle event
Two nights ago, an anomaly occurred in the system which supplies power to Hēki, and Hēki was unexpectedly powered off…
Hēki installation timelapse now available
While Hēki continues nominal operations, we now have a video of Hēki’s installation to share!
Hēki space station operations extended to April 2026
The Hēki team reached an agreement with Voyager Technologies to extend mission management support for Hēki operations on the International…
Hēki’s primary mission half complete
This week is an exciting milestone for Hēki! We’re celebrating the half-way point for Hēki’s 15-week primary mission. We’re excited…
Hēki’s Software Update Successful
A new version of software has been installed on Hēki to provide more flexibility during collection of radiation sensor data…
Magnetic cycling success criterion achieved & an update on Hēki’s radiation sensor operations
The Hēki team has just completed the third of three required magnetic field cycles from zero to 500mT, the highest…
Operations update & an overview of Hēki’s mechanical design, analysis, and test program
A status report about Hēki’s progress on its mission success criteria, and a guest post about the mechanical design &…
Operations update & characterising Hēki’s response to its evolving thermal environment
Hēki has started nominal operations, collecting radiation sensor data as a function of magnetic field. In parallel, our team is…
Hēki on-orbit commissioning completed
Hēki has successfully completed all planned on-orbit commissioning (ie, initial check-out) activities and the team has transitioned to nominal mission…
Hēki magnet holding at 500 milli-Tesla: maximum field planned for mission
Hēki’s flux pump control algorithm setpoint was increased from 300 milli-Tesla (mT) to 500mT today and is holding steady at…
300 milli-Tesla mission success goal achieved
The Hēki magnet met our 300 milli-Tesla (mT) mission success criterion during operations today. We will hold the magnet at…
Hēki magnet successfully energised on-orbit!
Today, our team was able to successfully energise Hēki’s superconducting magnet for the first time on-orbit. Our magnetic field target…
Hēki magnet cooled to superconducting temperature range
Today we are able to confirm that Hēki has achieved thermal stability with the magnet at superconducting temperatures – checking…
Day 2 of operations complete & an overview of Hēki’s HardPix radiation detector experiment
The second day of Hēki operations concluded with successful checkouts of the systems which cool the magnet and energise it…
NREP (+Hēki) installation on ISS & initial power-on check successfully completed
The NREP (integrated with Hēki) has been installed on the exterior of the ISS and initial power on testing and…
Hēki mechanical installation successfully completed!
Hēki has been successfully integrated with the Nanoracks External Platform (NREP) structure and placed in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM)…
Hēki installation schedule & Kōkako electric thruster laboratory testing
Hēki’s installation has been scheduled, and an update on progress with lab-based testing of the Kōkako electric thruster.
ISS crew unloading NG-23 Cygnus cargo resupply vehicle
Astronauts have opened the hatch of the NG-23 Cygnus capsule S.S. William “Willie” McCool and begun to unload cargo from…
Hēki has arrived at the ISS!
The Northrop-Grumman 23 cargo resupply vechicle carrying Hēki has docked at the ISS. The hatch will be opened later today…
NG-23 cargo vehicle carrying Hēki “go” for ISS arrival
The NG-23 cargo vehicle carrying Hēki has been cleared to proceed to the ISS.
Cygnus arrival at the ISS delayed
The Northrop-Grumman 23 cargo resupply vehicle carrying Hēki will be delayed arriving at the space station.
Hēki launch success!
Hēki was launched from Cape Canaveral Florida as part of the 23rd Northrop-Grumman International Space Station (ISS) cargo resupply flight.…
Hēki is scheduled for launch!
Hēki is now scheduled for launch to the International Space Station (ISS)! We are excited to share that the Hēki…
Hēki and Kōkako: a primer
What are Hēki (and Kōkako)? Hēki (te reo Māori for “egg”) is a technology demonstration experiment that is launching to the…
Hēki’s protective cover art
Several years ago, our team had the idea to explore use of high temperature superconductors to advance electric propulsion technology. …
How is “success” defined for the Hēki mission?
Demonstrating that Hēki would meet its mission objectives started long before the launch. We’ve developed a Mission Goals Checklist (below)…
Paihau—Robinson testing heat shield tech with German Aerospace Centre (DLR)
A team from Paihau—Robinson Research Institute at Victoria University of Wellington/Te Herenga Waka is testing a prototype spacecraft re-entry heat…
Hēki passes final pre-launch inspections
An update on our Hēki project
Hēki passes final NASA Safety Reviews
The Hēki team and colleagues at Voyager Technologies (formerly Nanoracks) recently completed the final safety review and approval for the…
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