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APEX

retired
Technology DemonstrationLEOCOSPAR 1994-046ALaunched 8/3/1994
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
APEX Mission
Launch Vehicle
Pegasus
Launch Date
8/3/1994
Last Contact
6/4/1996
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
LEO
Altitude
1,452.5 km
Inclination
69.97 deg
Dry Mass
261 kg
Total Mass
261 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Technology Demonstration
Payload Category
TECH
Payload Class
D
Organizations
Operator
Space Test Program
Manufacturer
Northrop Grumman
Registry
COSPAR ID
1994-046A
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/278
Track
Mentions
180
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

Apex is aiming to demo commercial space-based interceptor technology in orbit as soon as this year.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.5Apr 21, 2026Payload Field Guide: Golden Dome

NEC Corporation will buy one of Apex’s Aries satellite buses for a communications demo mission next year.

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RelationshipsPlanCapabilityValue 4.0Mar 19, 2026Apex Signs First Japanese Bus Contract With NEC

Apex signed an MOU in December to establish a model to mass-produce satellites in Europe.

PlanGrowthRelationshipsValue 3.2Mar 19, 2026Apex Signs First Japanese Bus Contract With NEC

Apex raised $400 million in venture capital in 2025.

FinancialGeneralValue 4.2Mar 19, 2026Apex Signs First Japanese Bus Contract With NEC

NEC’s demo mission with Apex will fly a next-generation optical communications payload in low Earth orbit.

CapabilityRelationshipsValue 3.9Mar 19, 2026Apex Signs First Japanese Bus Contract With NEC

The NEC contract is Apex’s first business in Japan.

RelationshipsGrowthValue 2.8Mar 19, 2026Apex Signs First Japanese Bus Contract With NEC

Apex introduced the Comet bus aimed at architectures like Golden Dome.

CapabilityValue 2.5Mar 18, 20269 New Faces for SATShow Week 2026

Apex raised $400 million from investors last year to support its manufacturing build-out.

FinancialGrowthValue 4.2Mar 18, 20269 New Faces for SATShow Week 2026

Apex opened Factory One in Los Angeles last year.

GrowthValue 2.5Mar 18, 20269 New Faces for SATShow Week 2026

Apex is planning a commercially funded mission to deploy multiple prototype missile interceptors in orbit.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.2Mar 18, 20269 New Faces for SATShow Week 2026

Anduril has two self-funded space launches expected this year: Hydronaut, featuring Anduril sensors and compute payloads on Argo Space Corp.’s Navigator spacecraft, and Lectronimo, using an Apex-supplied bus with Anduril mission data processing and infrared imaging capabilities.

PlanCapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.0Mar 11, 2026Latest News

Apex is planning Project Shadow to demonstrate key space-based interceptor technologies.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.3Dec 2, 2025First U.S. Commercially-Led, On-Orbit Space-Based Interceptor Demonstration Planned

After Apophis' flyby, the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will arrive shortly thereafter to further study the asteroid.

PlanValue 3.0Nov 28, 2025Raumsonde soll Asteroid Apophis begleiten

OSIRIS-APEX will investigate the composition and structure of Apophis to refine models of potentially hazardous near-Earth objects.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Nov 26, 2025OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft completes Earth flyby on its journey to explore Apophis

The repurposed OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft is on a multi-year cruise that will culminate in close operations around Apophis shortly after its 2029 Earth flyby.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Nov 26, 2025OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft completes Earth flyby on its journey to explore Apophis

OSIRIS-APEX is planned to perform detailed mapping at Apophis and study the asteroid's surface response to its close passage by Earth.

PlanValue 4.0Nov 26, 2025OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft completes Earth flyby on its journey to explore Apophis

Project Shadow is scheduled to launch in June 2026 using one of Apex’s commercial off-the-shelf satellite platforms.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Oct 27, 2025Commercially-led on-orbit missile interceptor demo is launched by Apex

Apex is launching Project Shadow to demonstrate key space-based interceptor technologies within the next year.

PlanValue 3.0Oct 27, 2025Commercially-led on-orbit missile interceptor demo is launched by Apex

Apex is collaborating with suppliers and partners on Project Shadow, though their names were not disclosed.

RelationshipsGeneralValue 2.0Oct 22, 2025Apex Set to Launch Commercial Interceptor Demo Next Year

Cinnamon mentioned that investor interest in Project Shadow has contributed to funding rounds for Apex.

FinancialGeneralValue 2.0Oct 22, 2025Apex Set to Launch Commercial Interceptor Demo Next Year