| Mission type | Technology demonstrator, Reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | DARPA |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Blackjack |
| Bus | Blue Canyon Technologies |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | June 12th, 2023 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Blackjack is a constellation of small American surveillance satellites to be launched starting in 2024. The Blackjack program was started by DARPA in 2017, [1] with contracts awarded in 2020. The Blackjack constellation will replace or complement larger systems such as Misty and KH-11. These new orbiters will be cheaper, more numerous and short-lived than existing systems. [2]
The new devices can be launched more covertly, may be more difficult to track and attack, and would be constantly replaced by new versions as older ones fall back to Earth. Each would have limited capabilities, but would operate as part of a constellation of twenty satellites networked together. Costs would be reduced by using the common commercial satellite buses now available. [3] In mid 2020, open sources indicated the first two satellites would be launched in the third quarter of 2021. [4] As of January 2022, the first four satellites of the constellation are scheduled to launch in fall 2022. [5] [6] On June 12, 2023, the first four satellites were launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base. [7]
On June 12, 2023, the first four satellites were launched on a SpaceX Rideshare mission. The mission, named Transporter 8, lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 2:35 pm local time.
| Name | NSSDC ID | Launch Date (UTC) | Launch Vehicle | Launch Site | Launch Mission | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack Aces-1 | 2023-084AA | June 12th, 2023 21:19 | Falcon 9 | VSFB SLC-4E | Transporter 8 [7] | Aces |
| Blackjack Aces-2 | 2023-084Z | |||||
| Blackjack Aces-3 | 2023-084U | |||||
| Blackjack Aces-4 | 2023-084W |
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Minotaur IV, also known as Peacekeeper SLV and OSP-2 PK is an active expendable launch system derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM. It is operated by Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, and made its maiden flight on 22 April 2010, carrying the HTV-2a Hypersonic Test Vehicle. The first orbital launch occurred on 26 September 2010 with the SBSS satellite for the United States Air Force.
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This article documents expected notable spaceflight events during the year 2027.
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The Space Development Agency (SDA) is a United States Space Force direct-reporting unit tasked with deploying disruptive space technology. A primary focus is space-based missile defense using large global satellite constellations made up of industry-procured low-cost satellites. The SDA has been managed by the United States Space Force since October 2022. By September 2023 the SDA had 23 satellites on orbit. SDA targets to have at least 1,000 satellites in low Earth orbit by 2026.
Kleos Space S.A. was a Luxembourg based space-powered Radio Frequency Reconnaissance company that delivered global intelligence and geolocation data as a service. Kleos Space used its clusters of nanosatellites to detect and locate radio frequency transmissions on land and sea to uncover hidden or illegal activity in key areas. The data collected by the constellation enables up to six antenna pairs to be used in proprietary multilateration algorithms. These algorithms uncover data points of human activity on land and sea for government and commercial use and are delivered to Kleos’ customers, which include various analytics and intelligence entities. Such entities can, for example, detect ships used for unlawful purposes, such as piracy, drug smuggling, and illegal fishing. Their technology can pick up on transmissions independent of other systems, allowing it to provide data when imagery is unclear or targets are out of normal aircraft patrol range.
D-Orbit is a private aerospace company headquartered in Italy with subsidiaries in Portugal, the UK and the US.
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