Blackjack Program News Today

By   Theresa Hitchens on June 04, 2021 at 12:43 PM CHPS lunar patrol satellite, AFRL graphic WASHINGTON: The Space Force is asking Congress for $832 million in extra funds for 2022, including $279 million in unspecified classified programs and $113 million in funds for new types of missions such as deep space surveillance and tactical ISR for the Air Force. The unfunded priorities list, obtained by Breaking Defense, was released to Congress today — later than those of the other services w...

By   Theresa Hitchens on March 08, 2021 at 4:51 PM Laser interlinks for satellites, JAXA image WASHINGTON: As DoD eyes low-cost satellite constellations to provide resilient communications, a crucial bottleneck has emerged: reliable optical data links — both between satellites in space and from space to the ground. “Think about it, getting a laser beam on a spacecraft to point to a laser receiver on another spacecraft accurately enough with the right power levels, the right waveforms etc...

DARPA Blackjack Satellites. Photo: DARPA Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) has completed its Critical Design Review (CDR) validating its X-SAT Saturn-class bus design to support the Blackjack Program, the company announced Dec. 14. Blackjack is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program to leverage commercial Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) technology for a global high-speed network for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).  In the CDR, which took place over a two-day period at its satel...

BCT demonstrated maturity and capability of its X-SAT bus design which will enhance LEO communications for the U.S. Department of Defense BOULDER, Colo. (Blue Canyon Technology PR) — Leading small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider Blue Canyon Technologies, Inc. (“BCT” or “Blue Canyon”) announced today that it has completed its critical design review (CDR) for the Blackjack Program, a military space capabilities demonstration being developed by the Defense Advanced R...