DARPA's Blackjack Satellite Program
US Pentagon Concept: Large Networks of Small, Cheap Satellites
Up for Grabs: Who's Going to Built It?
There is a new race to space. The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA is beginning the process to decide who will win the lucrative contract to build the US' new generation of satellites derived from commercial satellite technology. The system is called Blackjack and it consists of large networks of small, inexpensive satellites. Right now, in competition for the prize are the USAF's Space and Missile System Center (SMC) and the Pentagon's new group the Space Development Agency (SDA).
Low Earth Orbit
These are Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations for the US military. The satellites will be fanned out into large networks and large numbers that will make it more difficult for a potential enemy, such as Russia or China, to knock them out. Until now, Blackjack has been a DARPA demo program. It shows a great deal of promise, so it will now move out of the demo phase to an actual acquisition program by 2022.
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| Source: Artist Concept of DARPA's Small Sat System Blackjack |
Up for Grabs: Who's Going to Built It?
There is a new race to space. The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA is beginning the process to decide who will win the lucrative contract to build the US' new generation of satellites derived from commercial satellite technology. The system is called Blackjack and it consists of large networks of small, inexpensive satellites. Right now, in competition for the prize are the USAF's Space and Missile System Center (SMC) and the Pentagon's new group the Space Development Agency (SDA).
Low Earth Orbit
These are Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations for the US military. The satellites will be fanned out into large networks and large numbers that will make it more difficult for a potential enemy, such as Russia or China, to knock them out. Until now, Blackjack has been a DARPA demo program. It shows a great deal of promise, so it will now move out of the demo phase to an actual acquisition program by 2022.
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