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]
| Mission type | Technology demonstrator, Reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | DARPA |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Blackjack |
| Bus | Blue Canyon Technologies |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | June 12th, 2023 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
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
editOn 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
edit
References
edit- ^ Erwin, Sandra (31 May 2018). "DARPA to begin new effort to build military constellations in low Earth orbit". SpaceNews. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Wall, Mike (28 August 2018). "U.S. Military Aims to Launch Cheap New "Blackjack" Spy Satellites in 2021". Space.com. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ Thomas, Paul "Rusty". "Blackjack". DARPA. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Hitchens, Theresa (18 February 2020). "Blackjack Gets 2021 Budget Boost For Two Sats". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ Erwin, Sandra (30 January 2022). "CACI ramping up production of optical terminals for low Earth orbit satellites". SpaceNews. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ Erwin, Sandra (22 April 2021). "Lockheed Martin wins $27 million contract modification for integration of DARPA's Blackjack satellites". SpaceNews. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ a b Volosín, Juan I. Morales (11 June 2023). "Transporter-8 | Falcon 9 Block 5". Everyday Astronaut. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
