Credit: DARPA

ARLINGTON, Va. (DARPA PR) — The DARPA Launch Challenge aims to fundamentally shift military space capabilities to enable on-demand, flexible, and responsive launch of small payloads. Three competitors successfully completed the qualification phase and will attempt to launch to low-Earth orbit from two different U.S. locations within a matter of weeks. Teams will receive notice of the first launch site a few weeks prior to launch and exact details on the payload and intended orbit just days before launch. DARPA is targeting both launches for early 2020.

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Good morning from Launch Complex 1! Counting down to 23:27 UTC for launch. pic.twitter.com/cD0YSIGZyQ — Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) March 28, 2019

Target launch time conversions: UTC: 22:30, Tuesday 26 March NZDT: 11:30, Wednesday 27 March PDT: 15:30, Tuesday 26 March EDT: 18:30, Tuesday 26 March — Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) March 25, 2019

The team has identified a video transmitter 13dB down with low performance. It’s not an issue for flight, but we want to understand why, so we’re waiving off for the day. We’ll assess and advise a new target lift-off time soon. — Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) March 24, 2019

Blue skies over Launch Complex 1 today. Weather is green for launch! ☀️The webcast for today's mission will be live in approx 60 minutes. Lift-off is targeted for 23:36 UTC. https://t.co/CAfG1rE0M7 pic.twitter.com/TMr5azz1ps — Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) March 24, 2019

The launch window for the DARPA R3D2 mission is four hours long each day. Here's your handy dandy timezone guide!NZDT: 11:30 – 15:30 UTC: 22:30 – 02:30 PDT: 15:30 – 19:30EDT: 18:30 – 22:30 — Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) March 22, 2019

MMA Design successfully completes deployment testing of its innovative high-compaction ratio reflectarray antenna in its Louisville, Colorado facilities. (Credit: DARPA)

Editor’s Note: The 13-day window for the launch of DARPA’s R3D2 satellite aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron booster from New Zealand opens no earlier than March 16.

ARLINGTON, Va. (DARPA PR) — DARPA’s Radio Frequency Risk Reduction Deployment Demonstration (R3D2) is set for launch in mid-March to space-qualify a new type of membrane reflectarray antenna. The antenna, made of a tissue-thin Kapton membrane, packs tightly for stowage during launch and then will deploy to its full size of 2.25 meters in diameter once it reaches low Earth orbit.

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Fred Kennedy

SpaceNews reports that Dr. Fred Kennedy, who is director of DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office (TTO), has been tapped to run the Defense Department’s new Space Development Agency.

Kennedy was tapped for the post by Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin. The new agency will attempt to cut through Pentagon bureaucracy and red tape to develop and procure next generation military space systems more rapidly and less expensively.

According to his biography, Kennedy joined DARPA as TTO deputy director in January 2017. He had previously served as the senior policy advisor for national security space and aviation in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
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DARPA Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites Program satellite. (Credit: DARPA)

PALO ALTO, CA, Jan. 30, 2019 /CNW/ – SSL, a Maxar Technologies company (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR), and a leading provider of innovative satellites and spacecraft systems, today announced it has exercised its right to terminate participation in the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program, a public-private partnership with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), citing a need to focus its resources on ensuring optimal returns when weighed against other capital priorities, such as WorldView Legion. SSL remains unwavering in its commitment to its customers on all existing contracts.

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