EL
SEGUNDO, Calif., July 20,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Millennium Space Systems, a
Boeing (NYSE: BA) company, demonstrated several new technologies –
expected and unexpected – on orbit with their RED-EYE small
satellite constellation. Built for DARPA, the satellite was
nicknamed RED-EYE for the conspicuous bright red "remove before
flight" cover used to keep the payload clean. The small satellites'
purpose was to demonstrate new avionics, communications devices,
on-board processors and crosslinks.
Millennium is well known for wringing every
possible utility out of small sats, and this was no exception
"Millennium is well known for wringing every possible utility
out of small sats, and this was no exception," said Jason Kim, chief executive officer of Millennium
Space Systems. "RED-EYE showed what's possible when it comes to
advancing capabilities for small satellite constellations and
resiliency. And we're demonstrating it on-orbit in a way that's
cost and schedule efficient."
RED-EYE was able to control a constellation's orbital spacing
through aerodynamic drag modulation and management in low Earth
orbit. If the satellites needed to come together for a cross-link
as an example, the Millennium team developed a simple method to
manage their aerodynamic drag simultaneously to control the
constellation spacing.
"Satellite propulsion is not always an option – since we
launched off the International Space Station, we had to ensure that
our space vehicles were safe for the astronauts onboard," said
Doug Hulse, RED-EYE program manager,
Millennium Space Systems. "Instead, we used a novel approach to
orbital spacing which allowed us to control the satellite
constellation and perform our demonstrations without
propulsion."
The team took it a step further with space and ground-based
automation, allowing the constellation to essentially self-control
its orbital spacing.
While designed for a nine-month on-orbit mission life, the small
satellites continue to operate today without capability
degradation.
"RED-EYE is also performing real-time on-board processing," said
Hulse. "Getting data down from a satellite can take a long time. If
we can process raw data onboard and downlink only the information
that we want to learn, we can really improve the latency of the
system to provide that information to the users."
The program is demonstrating multi-path-communications on-orbit,
creating a path to networked small sat constellations. Different
communication layers can serve various functions – resiliency and
multiple parallel missions – potentially for use in multiple
domains.
The RED-EYE contract concluded in December 2021 and the first satellite
decommissioned in June 2022. The
satellites launched in 2019 and 2020 from the ISS.
Media Contact:
Dana Carroll, vice president,
Marketing
Millennium Space Systems
dana.carroll@millennium-space.com
About Millennium Space
Systems
Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, delivers
high-performing prototype and constellation solutions across
advanced national security and environmental observation missions.
Founded in 2001, the company's small satellite missions support
government, civil and commercial space customers' needs across
orbits.
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SOURCE Millennium Space Systems