MA61C achieves flight heritage onboard PHOENIX 1 re-entry capsule: A Milestone for SPiN and ATMOS Space Cargo

On April 22, 2025, ATMOS Space Cargo launched its PHOENIX 1 capsule aboard a SpaceX mission. Beyond the capsule's re-entry, the mission marked a groundbreaking achievement for SPiN: the MA61C cubesat has achieved flight heritage Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL 9)— the highest standard of spaceflight validation.

Atmos Control Room, photo credit: Atmos Space Cargo

MA61C: From Testbed to Flight-Proven

MA61C is a universal plug-and-play avionics system developed by Space Products and Innovation (SPiN) to handle the component-level telemetry and health reporting under real space conditions. The MA61C OBC is based on the flight-proven LEON architecture. 

During the PHOENIX 1 mission:

• MA61C operated continuously throughout the flight.

• It successfully collected data from multiple components, transmitting it back to Earth.

• It performed exactly as designed under real orbital and re-entry conditions.

  
  

This performance has now earned MA61C a TRL 9 designation, meaning the technology has been flight-proven through actual space mission operations. “MA61C was definitely running and sending the data. It was great working together with you,"  — Suphan Fayong, Spacecraft Embedded Software Engineer, ATMOS Space Cargo.

PHOENIX 1: A Testbed for Innovation

The PHOENIX 1 capsule, a prototype reusable cargo system, was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and re-entered Earth’s atmosphere just hours later. While a full mission data review is still in progress, initial results confirmed:

• Collecting in-flight data from the capsule and sub-components in orbit.

• Gathering scientific data from customer payloads 

• Deploying the Inflatable Heat Shield before atmospheric re-entry.

It was the perfect mission to prove that MA61C works in the most challenging mission, and it delivered.

Credit: SpaceX / ATMOS Space Cargo / European Spaceflight

What's Next?

ATMOS is going ahead with its next chapter: PHOENIX 2. This upgraded capsule is already in development, with a test flight currently planned for  2026, positioning itself as a pioneer in reusable European space logistics.

MA61C's TRL 9 status is more than a technical success — it's a signal of trust, reliability, and forward motion. With MA61C now certified flight-ready, SPiN is looking forward to unlocking its commercial potential with new and inspiring missions. 

Congratulations to the engineering teams and mission collaborators who made this moment possible.