DARPA
DARPA satellites damaged at processing facility ahead of SpaceX launch
Two satellites from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that were part of a SpaceX rideshare mission were damaged Jan. 4 at the payload processing facility.
DARPA okays Blue Canyon’s satellites for Blackjack program
The satellites Blue Canyon developed for DARPA's Blackjack program — based on the company's commercial X-SAT bus — passed a critical design review.
New initiative to promote satellite servicing and in-space assembly technologies
A new “national initiative” wants to promote the development of satellite servicing and in-space assembly technologies among U.S. government agencies that have differing views on the value of such capabilities.
Telesat wins DARPA contract to manufacture satellite buses for Blackjack program
Telesat won a $18.3 million DARPA contract to produce two satellite buses for the Blackjack low-Earth orbit constellation.
Blue Canyon selects Orbion electric thrusters for DARPA’s Blackjack satellites
Orbion is a four-year-old startup in Houghton, Michigan, that specializes in Hall-effect plasma thrusters for small satellites.
Tech executive Victoria Coleman named director of DARPA
Coleman is a member of the Defense Science Board and has held several senior posts in the private sector and academia.
DARPA’s Stephen Forbes named Blackjack program manager
Forbes has been Blackjack’s deputy program manager since 2018.
DARPA has no plans for another space launch prize competition
DARPA acting director Highnam said the agency sees no need to demonstrate launch capabilities that are now available from commercial providers.
Loft Orbital satellite to carry experiment for DARPA’s Blackjack program
DARPA's Pit Boss experiment, dubbed Sagittarius A*, is projected to launch in early 2021.
Blue Canyon Technologies could produce up to 20 satellite buses for DARPA’s Blackjack
If DARPA exercises all options, the contract awarded to Blue Canyon Technologies has a potential value of $99.4 million.
Raytheon wins $37 million DARPA contract for Blackjack payloads
The contract awarded to Raytheon is for Overhead Persistent Infrared sensor payloads.
DARPA awards Blackjack contracts to Blue Canyon, SA Photonics
Blue Canyon received a contract for satellite buses. SA Photonics' contract is for optical communications terminals.
DoD to test laser communications terminals in low Earth orbit
The Space Development Agency says optical inter-satellite links are "one of the most critical technologies to be demonstrated."
DARPA to begin launching Blackjack satellites in late 2020
Three payloads will fly to low Earth orbit in late 2020 and early 2021 to start building an optically meshed network.
Lockheed Martin wins DARPA contract to integrate Blackjack satellites
Lockheed Martin will integrate satellite buses and payloads with data processors.
