All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
DARPA is collaborating with NASA to build a nuclear thermal rocket engine under the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program.
The NASA–DARPA partnership on DRACO is governed by a non-reimbursable agreement signed by the two agencies earlier 2023-01.
DARPA solicited proposals for DRACO Phases 2 and 3 in May 2022 to develop and test the engine and perform a flight demonstration, with a then-planned timeframe of fiscal year 2026.
DARPA had not selected a Phase 2/3 awardee at the time of the NASA–DARPA partnership and expected to select an awardee within a couple of months.
DARPA started the DRACO program with three Phase 1 awards in April 2021 to teams led by Blue Origin, General Atomics, and Lockheed Martin to develop preliminary reactor and spacecraft designs.
NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility has two flat pads with basic infrastructure that were built by DARPA, remain owned by DARPA, and are operated by NASA.
Redwire Corporation will provide its suite of space cybersecurity tools developed with BigBear.ai to Mynaric for the development of an advanced satellite communication program sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Mynaric will use the SpaceCREST platform to ensure the security of its optical communications terminal design for Phase 1 of DARPA’s Space Based Adaptive Communications Node (Space-BACN) program.
BigBear.ai is participating with Redwire to deliver the SpaceCREST platform to Mynaric in support of DARPA’s efforts to improve satellite communications resilience to cyberattacks.
DARPA is working with multiple vendors to develop a low-cost laser communications terminal that is compatible with government and private-sector optical intersatellite link standards.
SpaceCREST will support the cybersecurity evaluation of Mynaric’s optical communications terminal for Phase 1 of DARPA’s Space Based Adaptive Communications Node (Space-BACN) program.
Rocket Lab’s 32 Electron missions from Launch Complex 1 delivered 152 satellites to orbit for customers including NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office, DARPA, the U.S. Space Force, and commercial constellation operators.
Rocket Lab has delivered 152 satellites to orbit for customers that have included NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office, DARPA, the U.S. Space Force, and commercial constellation operators.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems delivered a baseline design of a DRACO nuclear thermal propulsion reactor and engine under contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
DARPA’s Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) on-orbit demonstration mission is scheduled to launch in 2024.
DARPA partnered with SpaceLogistics, a Northrop Grumman company, in 2020 so SpaceLogistics would provide the spacecraft bus, launch, and operations in exchange for commercial use of the robotic payload on-orbit.
Astra Space previously reduced staff in early 2020 after losing a Rocket 3 vehicle on the pad in Alaska during preparations for the DARPA Launch Challenge.
DARPA plans for on-orbit satellite servicing activities under the RSGS program to begin in 2025.
DARPA originally selected SSL as its commercial partner for RSGS in 2017.
DARPA selected Northrop Grumman’s subsidiary SpaceLogistics as its RSGS partner in 2020.