# Space Technology 5 **Domain:** Spaceflight / Technology Demonstration **Doc Type:** Mission Node **Maturity:** Developed ## Definition **Space Technology 5 (ST5)** was a NASA New Millennium Program mission of three microsatellites launched March 22, 2006, to demonstrate miniaturized spacecraft technologies. ## Evolved-Antenna Context Each spacecraft carried an X-band antenna produced through evolutionary design. NASA records report that the technology operated within specification during the mission. [[articles/The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley|The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley]] identifies ST5 as the transition from simulated selection to operational artifact. NASA's technical paper characterized the best evolved designs as comparable to the contractor's hand design and therefore human-competitive. This is more precise than claiming unqualified superiority. ## Continuity Context ST5 is a clean example of substrate validation. A candidate evolved in simulation does not become an engineering continuant until its geometry survives fabrication, launch and the target environment. ## Sources / Provenance - NASA/JPL ST5 quick facts: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/nmp/st5/QUICKFACTS/quickfacts.php - NASA/JPL evolved antenna: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/nmp/st5/TECHNOLOGY/antenna.html - NASA technical report: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20040152147 ## See Also [[wiki/Evolved Antenna|Evolved Antenna]], [[wiki/X-band|X-band]], [[wiki/NASA Ames Research Center|NASA Ames Research Center]], [[wiki/Operational Substrate|Operational Substrate]]