L3 Harris launches demonstrator spacecraft to show how constellation of small sats could help Air Force

July 22, 2020
The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) payload will enable operators to change satellite missions while on orbit.

PALM BAY, Fla. – L3Harris has launched a new demonstrator satellite to show the U.S. Air Force a reprogrammable constellation of end-to-end small satellites. C4ISRnet reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

22 July 2020 -- While the company declined to discuss launch details due to the classified nature of the program, L3Harris notes that it is the prime contractor for the responsive constellation contract and is responsible for designing, developing, building, testing, and deploying the satellite.

“In collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, we pulled the pieces together to successfully plan, develop, and execute an affordable, high-performance space mission, which is part of a responsive constellation contract," says Ed Zoiss, president of the L3Harris Space & Airborne Systems segment in Palm Bay, Fla.

The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) satellite system features a reprogrammable payload that will enable operators to change satellite missions while on orbit. The payload also will use the L3Harris High Compaction Ratio unfurlable X-band antenna to enable high-speed data communications.

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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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