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U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

US

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.

gov defenseFounded 1958
Arlington, Virginia, United States
www.darpa.mil
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

Blue Canyon Technologies deployed new satellite components on Transporter-1 that it plans to incorporate in Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency satellites.

PlanRelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.0Jan 26, 2021SpaceX’s rideshare carried small satellite technology of interest to U.S. military

DARPA and the Space Development Agency intended to launch two optical inter-satellite link cubesats on Transporter-1 but the satellites were accidentally damaged at the payload processing facility before launch.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jan 26, 2021SpaceX’s rideshare carried small satellite technology of interest to U.S. military

Two Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency satellites sustained damage at a payload processing facility, confirmed by DARPA on 2021-01-06.

GeneralCapabilityValue 4.0Jan 6, 2021DARPA satellites damaged at processing facility ahead of SpaceX launch

The two damaged satellites are part of the Blackjack program, a constellation effort led by DARPA, the Space Development Agency, and the Air Force Research Laboratory to deploy small satellites in low Earth orbit.

GeneralCapabilityValue 3.5Jan 6, 2021DARPA satellites damaged at processing facility ahead of SpaceX launch

The DARPA contract with Blue Canyon Technologies includes options for DARPA to purchase up to 20 satellites for $99,400,000.

RelationshipsFinancialValue 4.0Dec 22, 2020Raytheon completes acquisition of Blue Canyon Technologies

In July, Blue Canyon Technologies won a $14,100,000 DARPA contract to produce four satellite buses for the Blackjack program.

RelationshipsFinancialPlanCapabilityValue 5.0Dec 22, 2020Raytheon completes acquisition of Blue Canyon Technologies

The DARPA contract for the Blackjack Program has an initial award value of $14,200,000 and a total potential value of $99,400,000 if all options are exercised.

RelationshipsFinancialValue 5.0Dec 15, 2020Small satellite leader Blue Canyon Technologies completes CDR for DARPA Blackjack Program

Blue Canyon Technologies plans to deliver the Blackjack spacecraft on a rapid timeline to support the DARPA demonstration schedule, with the first spacecraft to be delivered in mid-2021.

PlanGrowthRelationshipsValue 4.0Dec 15, 2020Blue Canyon’s CDR for DARPA’s BlackJack Space Program Successfully Completed

The Critical Design Review completed the third milestone that will culminate in the first two flight buses being delivered to DARPA for payload integration in August 2021.

PlanRelationshipsValue 4.0Dec 15, 2020Blue Canyon’s CDR for DARPA’s BlackJack Space Program Successfully Completed

The Blackjack Program CDR completed the third milestone that will culminate in the first two flight buses being delivered to DARPA for payload integration in August 2021.

PlanRelationshipsValue 4.0Dec 15, 2020Small satellite leader Blue Canyon Technologies completes CDR for DARPA Blackjack Program

The Blackjack spacecraft will be delivered on a rapid timeline to support DARPA’s demonstration schedule, with the first spacecraft to be delivered in mid-2021.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Dec 15, 2020Small satellite leader Blue Canyon Technologies completes CDR for DARPA Blackjack Program

The DARPA contract for Blue Canyon Technologies’ Blackjack work has an initial award value of $14,200,000 and a total potential value of $99,400,000 if all options are exercised.

RelationshipsFinancialValue 5.0Dec 15, 2020Blue Canyon’s CDR for DARPA’s BlackJack Space Program Successfully Completed

Blue Canyon Technologies completed the critical design review for the Blackjack Program developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.8Dec 15, 2020Small satellite leader Blue Canyon Technologies completes CDR for DARPA Blackjack Program

DARPA plans to deploy up to 20 spacecraft in low-Earth orbit connected by optical inter-satellite links to provide communications, missile tracking, and navigation services.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.4Dec 14, 2020DARPA okays Blue Canyon’s satellites for Blackjack program

After clearing the critical design review, Blue Canyon Technologies can start producing the first two flight buses to be delivered to DARPA for payload integration in August 2021.

PlanRelationshipsValue 4.6Dec 14, 2020DARPA okays Blue Canyon’s satellites for Blackjack program

The first Blackjack spacecraft will be delivered in mid-2021 to support the DARPA demonstration schedule.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Dec 14, 2020Blue Canyon Technologies Completes CDR for DARPA Blackjack Program

DARPA awarded an initial contract value of $14,200,000 for the Blackjack Program with a total potential value of $99,400,000 if all options are exercised.

RelationshipsFinancialValue 5.0Dec 14, 2020Blue Canyon Technologies Completes CDR for DARPA Blackjack Program

The critical design review completed the third milestone of the Blackjack Program, culminating in the first two flight buses being delivered to DARPA for payload integration in August 2021.

PlanRelationshipsValue 4.2Dec 14, 2020Blue Canyon Technologies Completes CDR for DARPA Blackjack Program

DARPA awarded an $18,000,000 contract to Inmarsat in 2010 for the Persistent Broadband Ground Connectivity for Spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit program.

RelationshipsFinancialValue 5.0Nov 25, 2020Capella Space successfully conducts first data relay order through Inmarsat

Telesat was selected by DARPA to deploy two satellites in 2021 to demonstrate optical inter-satellite links in orbit for the Blackjack program.

PlanRelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.5Nov 23, 2020To boost its military space business, Lockheed Martin turns to commercial players
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