View source for Engineering:Blackjack (satellite)

{{Short description|Constellation of American surveillance satellites}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name               = Blackjack
| names_list         = 
| image              = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_size         = 300px
| mission_type       = [[Engineering:Technology demonstration|Technology demonstrator]], Reconnaissance
| operator           = DARPA
| COSPAR_ID          = 
| SATCAT             = 
| website            = 
| mission_duration   = 
| spacecraft         = Blackjack
| spacecraft_type    = 
| spacecraft_bus     = Blue Canyon Technologies
| manufacturer       = [[Company:Lockheed Martin|Lockheed Martin]]
| launch_mass        = 
| dimensions         = 
| power              = <!-- [[Watt|watt]]s -->
| launch_date        = June 12th, 2023
| launch_rocket      = 
| launch_site        = 
| launch_contractor  = 
| disposal_type      = 
| deactivated        = 
| last_contact       = 
| decay_date         = 
| orbit_reference    = [[Astronomy:Geocentric orbit|Geocentric orbit]]
| orbit_regime       = [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|Low Earth orbit]]
| orbit_periapsis    = 
| orbit_apoapsis     = 
| orbit_inclination  = 
| orbit_period       = 
| apsis              = gee
| instruments        = 
| programme          = 
| previous_mission   = 
| next_mission       = 
}}

'''Blackjack''' is a [[Engineering:Satellite constellation|constellation]] of small American surveillance satellites to be launched starting in 2024. The Blackjack program was started by DARPA in 2017,<ref>{{cite web |last=Erwin |first=Sandra |url=https://spacenews.com/darpa-to-begin-new-effort-to-build-military-constellations-in-low-earth-orbit/ |title=DARPA to begin new effort to build military constellations in low Earth orbit |work=SpaceNews |date=31 May 2018 |access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref> with contracts awarded in 2020. The Blackjack constellation will replace or complement larger systems such as [[Engineering:Misty (satellite)|Misty]] and [[Engineering:KH-11|KH-11]]. These new orbiters will be cheaper, more numerous and short-lived than existing systems.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |url=https://www.space.com/41639-darpa-cheap-spy-satellites-2021-launch.html |title=U.S. Military Aims to Launch Cheap New "Blackjack" Spy Satellites in 2021 |work=Space.com |date=28 August 2018 |access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref>

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.<ref name="DARPA">{{cite web |last1=Thomas|first1=Paul "Rusty"|title=Blackjack|url=https://www.darpa.mil/program/blackjack|publisher=DARPA|access-date=24 April 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> In mid 2020, open sources indicated the first two satellites would be launched in the third quarter of 2021.<ref name="Breaking D">{{cite web |last=Hitchens |first=Theresa |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2020/02/blackjack-gets-2021-budget-boost-for-two-sats/ |title=Blackjack Gets 2021 Budget Boost For Two Sats |publisher=Breaking Defense |date=18 February 2020 |access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref> As of January 2022, the first four satellites of the constellation are scheduled to launch in fall 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last=Erwin |first=Sandra |url=https://spacenews.com/caci-ramping-up-production-of-optical-terminals-for-low-earth-orbit-satellites/ |title=CACI ramping up production of optical terminals for low Earth orbit satellites |work=SpaceNews |date=30 January 2022 |access-date=31 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Erwin |first=Sandra |url=https://spacenews.com/lockheed-martin-wins-27-million-contract-modification-for-integration-of-darpas-blackjack-satellites/ |title=Lockheed Martin wins $27 million contract modification for integration of DARPA's Blackjack satellites |work=SpaceNews |date=22 April 2021 |access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref> On June 12, 2023, the first four satellites were launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Volosín |first=Juan I. Morales |date=2023-06-11 |title=Transporter-8 {{!}} Falcon 9 Block 5 |url=https://everydayastronaut.com/transporter-8-falcon-9-block-5/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Everyday Astronaut |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Blackjack Missions ==
On June 12, 2023, the first four satellites were launched on a [[Company:SpaceX|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.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Name
![[Engineering:International Designator|NSSDC ID]]
!Launch Date
([[Physics:Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
!Launch Vehicle
!Launch Site
!Launch Mission
!Series
|-
|Blackjack Aces-1
|2023-084AA
| rowspan="4" |June 12th, 2023
21:19
| rowspan="4" |[[Engineering:Falcon 9|Falcon 9]]
| rowspan="4" |VSFB SLC-4E
| rowspan="4" |Transporter 8<ref name=":0" />
| rowspan="4" |Aces
|-
|Blackjack Aces-2
|2023-084Z
|-
|Blackjack Aces-3
|2023-084U
|-
|Blackjack Aces-4
|2023-084W
|}

== See also ==
* Enhanced Imaging System
* [[Engineering:Future Imagery Architecture|Future Imagery Architecture]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{US Reconnaissance Satellites}}

[[Category:National Reconnaissance Office satellites]]
[[Category:Small satellites]]

{{Sourceattribution|Blackjack (satellite)}}