Georgia Tech's Prox-1 spacecraft shipped safely to the Air Force Research Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico last weekend, marking a key milestone for the SmallSat that will carry The Planetary Society's LightSail 2 into space.

More than 200 Georgia Tech students and faculty members have worked on the project since its inception in 2012.

"The shipment of Prox-1 is a major milestone, and an important step on the long path to launch," said Dave Spencer, the mission manager for Prox-1, who also serves as the project and mission manager for LightSail 2. "The students have worked incredibly hard to get to this point."

Together, Prox-1 and LightSail 2 will hitch a ride on the second flight of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, which will carry a larger payload for the U.S. Air Force. Launch is currently not expected until at least December 2017.

Once in orbit, Prox-1 will deploy LightSail 2, after which LightSail 2 will attempt to perform the first controlled solar sail flight in Earth orbit—and the first-ever by a CubeSat.

The two spacecraft will soon be ready to meet for the first time, ahead of a summer of testing to make sure they can withstand the rigors of spaceflight.