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.
A government-industry team including Aerojet Rocketdyne, Boeing, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency completed a series of 10 test firings over 10 days of the AR-22 engine intended for use on a reusable suborbital spaceplane.
DARPA plans to buy commercial satellite buses and integrate them with military sensors and payloads for the Blackjack program.
DARPA is expected to award $117,500,000 in contracts over three phases to up to eight bus and payload suppliers for Blackjack.
In May 2017 DARPA selected Boeing to develop the XS-1 program, with Masten Space Systems and Northrop Grumman having received earlier study contracts.
Space Systems Loral is collaborating with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to send a mobile servicing vehicle into geostationary orbit through the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites program.
SSL is investing with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program to develop a vehicle that can inspect satellites in geostationary orbit, refuel them, repair mechanical problems, and install new payloads.
DARPA awarded SSL a contract to develop a robotic servicing spacecraft for GEO satellites capable of supporting both commercial and government satellites.
The committee requires the Missile Defense Agency to develop a persistent space-based sensor architecture capable of supporting the ballistic missile defense system and compatible with DARPA efforts on space-based sensors for missile defense.
The Senate Armed Services Committee directs the U.S. Air Force and DARPA to work with the Missile Defense Agency to study whether the LEO constellation has the potential to meet MDA’s space-based requirements.
DARPA plans to award $117,500,000 in contracts over three phases to up to eight bus or payload suppliers for the Blackjack program.
Blackjack was launched by DARPA last year with the goal of developing a low Earth orbit constellation to provide global persistent coverage for military operations.
Confers activities are currently supported by DARPA, with future costs to be covered by member companies.