Passive Inspection CubeSat

{{Distinguish|text=PicSat, a French CubeSat active in 2018}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Passive Inspection CubeSats (PIC-A & PIC-B)

| image =

| image_caption =

| mission_type = Technology Demonstration

| operator = Brigham Young University

| website = BYU Advanced Spacecraft Group [https://spacecraft.byu.edu/missions/pics]

| COSPAR_ID = 2021-002

| SATCAT =

| mission_duration =

| spacecraft_type = 1U CubeSat each

| manufacturer = Brigham Young University

| dry_mass = 1.35 kg each

| launch_mass =

| power = Solar cells, batteries

| launch_date = {{start-date|17 Jan 2020|timezone=yes}} UTC

| launch_rocket = LauncherOne

| launch_site = Mojave Air and Space Port, California, United States

| launch_contractor = Virgin Orbit

| disposal_type =

| deactivated =

| last_contact =

| decay_date =

| orbit_epoch =

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Low Earth

| orbit_periapsis = 500 km

| orbit_apoapsis = 500 km

| orbit_inclination = 60.69

| orbit_period =

| apsis = circular

}}

Passive Inspection CubeSats, or PICS, is a technology demonstration spacecraft mission utilizing two CubeSat miniaturized satellites, identified as PIC-A and PIC-B. The project was developed by students at Brigham Young University (BYU) as part of NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNA) initiative beginning in 2016.{{cite web|title=Passive Inspection CubeSats |year=|publisher=Brigham Young University|url=https://spacecraft.byu.edu/missions/pics/|accessdate=2021-01-17}}{{cite web|title=NASA Announces Seventh Round of Candidates for CubeSat Space Missions|year=2016|publisher=NASA|url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-announces-seventh-round-of-candidates-for-cubesat-space-missions|accessdate=2021-01-17}} The satellites are outfitted with cameras to be able to get a 360-degree view to visually assess the exterior of other spacecraft and detect possible damage. BYU professor David Long termed the project a "spacecraft selfie cam."{{cite news |author= |date=November 11, 2020 |title=This BYU camera is launching into orbit to take photos of NASA spacecraft |url=https://news.byu.edu/intellect/byu-partnering-with-nasa-to-send-a-spacecraft-selfie-cam-into-space-on-official-mission |work=BYU News |access-date=January 17, 2021}}{{cite news |last=Bennett |first=Lauren |date=November 11, 2020 |title=This BYU camera is launching into orbit to take photos of NASA spacecraft |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/50047008/this-byu-camera-is-launching-into-orbit-to-take-photos-of-nasa-spacecraft |work=KSL.com |access-date=January 17, 2021}}

PIC-A and PIC-B were originally scheduled to be launched in 2018, but launch was delayed until 2021. PICs was successfully launched into orbit along with eight other CubeSats during Virgin Orbit's Launch Demo 2 on January 17, 2021. In Virgin Orbit's first successful air-launch-to-orbit, the Boeing 747-400 Cosmic Girl carried a LauncherOne orbital rocket from Mojave Air and Space Port to the Pacific Ocean, where LauncherOne separated from the aircraft and achieved orbit.{{cite web|title=Announcing the Window for Launch Demo 2|date=2020|website=Virgin Orbit|url=https://virginorbit.com/the-latest/announcing-the-window-for-launch-demo-2/|accessdate=January 17, 2021|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214192931/https://virginorbit.com/the-latest/announcing-the-window-for-launch-demo-2/|url-status=dead}}