L3Harris has successfully launched a new demonstrator satellite for the U.S. Air Force. The small satellite is part of a U.S. Air Force constellation of end-to-end small satellites the company is developing.
As the prime contractor for the firm fixed-price development space mission, L3Harris is designing, developing, building, testing, and deploying the satellites. The company will task, command, and control the satellite system, as well as perform on-board processing of data to deliver imagery products directly to warfighters on tactical timelines.
Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris, commented that L3Harris has developed and supported various aspects of satellite missions over the last several decades as a component supplier or hosted payload. In collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, they pulled the pieces together to successfully plan, develop, and execute an affordable, high-performance space mission, which is part of a responsive constellation contract.
The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles Secondary Payload Adapter, or ESPA-class, satellite system will use L3Harris’ fully reprogrammable payload platform - allowing operators to reconfigure smallsat payloads on orbit to changing missions. The company’s High Compaction Ratio unfurlable X-band reflector is also on board to enable high-speed data communication. L3Harris is an end-to-end solutions provider for affordable, responsive smallsat systems that deliver high value for the most challenging Department of Defense and Intelligence Community missions.
