The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a research and development agency within the U.S. Department of Defense, responsible for creating breakthrough technologies for national security. While not a space agency, DARPA initiates and manages high-risk, high-payoff projects relevant to space, including satellite constellations, space-based surveillance tech, lunar habitats, and advanced propulsion systems like nuclear thermal rockets. DARPA partners with various organizations, including NASA, U.S. Space Force, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, and BAE Systems, to achieve its goals. Keywords associated with DARPA's space activities include space superiority, space-based weaponry, advanced materials, and autonomous systems.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
DARPA has ordered two satellite buses from Telesat for the Blackjack program.
DARPA has ordered 10 satellite buses from Blue Canyon Technologies for the Blackjack program.
DARPA is planning to start launching Blackjack satellites in summer 2022 but supply shortages hampering manufacturers could lead to delays.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is developing a nuclear-thermal propulsion system in a program known as Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO).
Shield AI recently announced its acquisition of Heron Systems, winner of the DARPA AlphaDogfight Trials, to enhance Hivemind applications for Group 5 aircraft.
DARPA’s DRACO concept is a nuclear thermal engine that uses nuclear fission to heat liquid hydrogen, which serves as the propellant to create thrust.
DARPA awarded a $2,500,000 contract to Blue Origin to design a spacecraft concept for the DRACO program.
DARPA awarded a $2,900,000 contract to Lockheed Martin to design a spacecraft concept for the DRACO program.
DARPA awarded a $22,000,000 contract to General Atomics in April to design a small nuclear reactor for space propulsion.
Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin won DARPA contracts to develop spacecraft using nuclear thermal propulsion systems for the DRACO program.
In April, DARPA awarded General Atomics a $22,000,000 contract for reactor design work for the DRACO program.
The YAM-3 satellite will host a demonstration payload for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Blackjack program.
The $15,300,000,000 in proposed 2022 space technology investments includes $400,000,000 for Missile Defense Agency and DARPA RDT&E.
S. 1260 authorizes funding increases for DARPA and the National Science Foundation and establishes a new technology directorate at the National Science Foundation.
Blue Canyon Technologies won an order for four contracts in June 2020 related to DARPA’s Blackjack program.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is requesting $42,000,000 in 2021-10-01 to deploy experimental satellites in low-Earth orbit under the Blackjack program.
DARPA plans to deploy as many as 20 satellites under the Blackjack program.
DARPA started the Blackjack program in 2018 and has awarded contracts to multiple vendors for satellite buses, payloads, and an autonomous computing system to operate the constellation.
In the late 1990s the Air Force, DARPA, and the National Reconnaissance Office collaborated on plans for a constellation of radar remote-sensing satellites but the project was canceled in the 2000 federal budget.
DARPA is assembling a team of suppliers for the Blackjack program with a goal to start launching demonstration satellites in 2022.