The demonstration—Toutatis—will comprise the Lisa-1 space situational awareness satellite and the Splinter LEO action satellite to deal with suspicious activities.
The Space Development Agency’s first operational satellites are scheduled to launch early next year due to supply chain issues that prevented a 2024 launch.
Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel said after the July inaugural mission, Arianespace plans 10 flights in 2027 and will average nine or 10 flights from then on.
SpaceX’s record-setting Polaris Dawn private spaceflight ended with a splashdown early Sept. 15 off the coast of Florida’s Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico.
Aviation Week Network bolsters our team of reporters and data analysts, expanded our coverage and introduced a Space channel and the Defense Market Analyzer.