DARPA’s Blackjack jumps forward with payload, bus, demo awards

June 18, 2020

WASHINGTON - DARPA’s closely-watched Blackjack program to explore how DoD can use commercial technology to develop a range of technologies — from communications systems to sensors to on-orbit data processing software to low-cast busses — for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations is pushing fast toward first launch in 2021, with a spate of contracts issued over the past couple of weeks, Theresa Hitchens writes for Breaking DefenseContinue reading original article.

The Intelligent Aerospace take:

June 18, 2020 -The DARPA Blackjack program seeks to orbit a constellation of small, secure, and affordable military satellites that capitalize on modern commercial satellite technologies by developing low-cost space payloads and commoditized satellite buses with low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) with similar capabilities to today’s military communications that operate at geosynchronous orbit (GEO), but at a fraction of the cost.

Related: Raytheon's 'Pit Boss' to bring automation management to DARPA satellite constellation

Related: Blue Canyon Technologies to design SWaP-C-optimized communications and surveillance satellites

Related: DARPA MFP drone-defense program seeks to protect moving convoys from attacking small UAS

Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace

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