INTRODUCTION The AprizeSat spacecraft, built, owned and operated by SpaceQuest, Ltd. is part of a constellation of micro-satellites with a primary Machine-to-Machine (M2M) mission. On July 29, 2009, SpaceQuest launched AprizeSat-3 (AS3) and AprizeSat-4 (AS4). Both spacecraft continue to carry out their M2M and AIS missions in their sun-synchronous orbits. Design, integration, and testing of the next-generation AprileSat spacecraft began in September 2008. Since then, SpaceQuest has followed its signature rapid development process to produce three operational spacecraft: AprizeSat 5 is retained as a testbed software and flight reserve. AS3 and AS4 were launched into a sun-synchronous orbit, 10:30 a.m. aboard a Dnepr rocket (converted Russian SS-18 ICBM) by ISC Kosmotras. Automated commissioning of the spacecraft was performed in the first two orbits, even before contacting the ground station for the first time. MISSION The AprizeSat spacecraft has a dual-purpose mission: AIS and M2M. Both missions can be performed simultaneously, without interfering with each other. The AIS mission has received the most attention since launch due to the payload's unique ability to resolve message collisions and decode numerous ship radio transmissions in the same frequency channels. Machine to Machine - M2MAprizeSat spacecraft are equipped with low-power UHF receivers and transmitters that communicate with the ground. Asset Tracking “Tags” based on Tags include a microprocessor, UHF transceiver, sensor interface, and long-life battery. Depending on the application, various sensor inputs and/or outputs are integrated and an integrated GPS receiver is optional. A ground station where signal analysis showed that A... half the paper... was crushed under a standoff. The harness was replaced and the GPS receiver was returned to the tray. Tests showed that the GPS was now working well and the problem was resolved. The spacecraft was reinstated and tested to demonstrate that no other systems had been compromised by the diagnostic activities. From detecting the problem, to fixing it, and confirming that the spacecraft was healthy again, the process took approximately 3 hours, and the spacecraft was ready to be transported to the launch site in the morning. Mission Timeline Table 1 outlines the 10-month timeline of the recent AprileSat mission from conception to launch. While short and responsive, this AprizeSat program was actually several months longer than previous AprizeSat programs, which is attributable to increased design complexity and other ongoing projects.