DARPA
Blue Canyon delivers first satellite bus for DARPA’s Blackjack constellation
Blue Canyon Technologies delivered the first of 10 satellite buses DARPA ordered in 2020 for its Blackjack experiment in low Earth orbit.
U.S. Space Command calls for investment in technologies for deep space missions
U.S. Space Command's Lt. Gen. John Shaw said 'one of the challenges that we will have as a nation is understanding the lunar environment'
SpaceLink partners with Parsons for DARPA’s inter-satellite communications project
SpaceLink will work with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop protocols for how commercial communications constellations will connect with defense and military systems.
DARPA selects companies for inter-satellite laser communications project
Eleven organizations were selected by DARPA to help develop laser terminals and technical standards to connect satellites in space.
Millennium Space reveals results of DARPA’s ‘Red-Eye’ smallsat experiment
The DARPA-funded Red-Eye experiment demonstrated capabilities such as on-board data processing, inter-satellite communications and software-defined radios.
Blue Canyon looks to demonstrate small-satellite performance at very low altitude
Raytheon vice president Brad Tousley said there is growing interest from national security agencies in space missions in very low Earth orbit
Military experiment demonstrates intersatellite laser communications in low Earth orbit
Two small satellites launched last summer by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency successfully established an optical link during a nearly 40-minute test.
DARPA moving forward with development of nuclear powered spacecraft
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on May 4 issued a solicitation for proposals for the next phase of a demonstration of a nuclear powered spacecraft.
Phase Four wins DARPA contract to test novel propellant
Phase Four won a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency contract to demonstrate the California startup’s radio frequency thruster technology with a new propellant.
CACI ramping up production of optical terminals for low Earth orbit satellites
CACI will deliver 40 optical communications terminals for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Blackjack satellites in low Earth orbit.
Report: Nuclear propulsion would help military satellites maneuver out of harm’s way
Michael Leahy, director of DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office, said nuclear propulsion could give the U.S. military an advantage over enemies by making satellites more maneuverable and less vulnerable to attack.
Mynaric selected by DARPA to design next-generation optical terminals
Mynaric has been selected to participate in a DARPA program to develop next-generation laser communications terminals.
Interoperability demo planned between DARPA’s Blackjack and PredaSAR satellites
PredaSAR won a $2 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to demonstrate interoperability between its satellites and the Blackjack military constellation.
Parsons to develop ground operations center for DARPA’s Blackjack satellites
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded Parsons a $10.8 million contract to prototype a ground operations center for the agency’s Blackjack constellation.
DARPA to launch DoD’s first in-space manufacturing research program
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in a new program will explore options to conduct biomanufacturing in space, using biological systems like microbes to construct materials for use in orbital operations.
Northrop Grumman to launch new satellite-servicing robot aimed at commercial and government market
Northrop Grumman in 2024 plans to launch a new servicing vehicle equipped with a robotic arm that will install propulsion jet packs on dying satellites.
DARPA seeking satellite laser terminals that can talk to any space network
DARPA is asking for ideas on how to make optical inter-satellite links that can connect government and commercial space communications systems in low Earth orbit.
DARPA awards Lockheed Martin $25 million contract modification for integration of Blackjack satellites
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency increased Lockheed Martin’s contract for satellite integration work for the Blackjack program by $25.3 million.
ExoTerra to provide Blackjack satellite thrusters
Blue Canyon Technologies selected ExoTerra Resources to provide electric propulsion for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s Blackjack Phase 2 and Phase 3 satellites.
Global microelectronic shortages trickle down to military satellite programs
Defense Department satellite programs are feeling the effects of the widespread microchip shortage that has stymied carmakers and consumer electronic manufacturers.
