Engineering:Blackjack (satellite)

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Short description: Constellation of American surveillance satellites
Blackjack
Mission typeTechnology demonstrator, Reconnaissance
OperatorDARPA
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftBlackjack
BusBlue Canyon Technologies
ManufacturerLockheed Martin
Start of mission
Launch dateJune 12th, 2023
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow 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]

Blackjack Missions

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (31 May 2018). "DARPA to begin new effort to build military constellations in low Earth orbit". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/darpa-to-begin-new-effort-to-build-military-constellations-in-low-earth-orbit/. 
  2. ↑ Wall, Mike (28 August 2018). "U.S. Military Aims to Launch Cheap New "Blackjack" Spy Satellites in 2021". Space.com. https://www.space.com/41639-darpa-cheap-spy-satellites-2021-launch.html. 
  3. ↑ Thomas, Paul "Rusty". "Blackjack". DARPA. https://www.darpa.mil/program/blackjack.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ↑ Hitchens, Theresa (18 February 2020). "Blackjack Gets 2021 Budget Boost For Two Sats". Breaking Defense. https://breakingdefense.com/2020/02/blackjack-gets-2021-budget-boost-for-two-sats/. 
  5. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (30 January 2022). "CACI ramping up production of optical terminals for low Earth orbit satellites". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/caci-ramping-up-production-of-optical-terminals-for-low-earth-orbit-satellites/. 
  6. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (22 April 2021). "Lockheed Martin wins $27 million contract modification for integration of DARPA's Blackjack satellites". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/lockheed-martin-wins-27-million-contract-modification-for-integration-of-darpas-blackjack-satellites/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Volosín, Juan I. Morales (2023-06-11). "Transporter-8 | Falcon 9 Block 5" (in en-US). https://everydayastronaut.com/transporter-8-falcon-9-block-5/. 



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