Under a contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), commercial satellite provider Space Systems/Loral will study how to robotically assemble geostationary communications satellite already in orbit, the company said Wednesday.
The eventual goal of the program, called Dragonfly, is to develop a satellite that can be launched into space in a compact, stowed state and then assemble itself once in orbit. In the future, such technology could enable the Defense Department to create larger satellites that could be packaged in pieces and launched inside a standard-sized vehicle, a news release from the company stated.
“The Dragonfly program gives SSL the opportunity to demonstrate our advanced robotics capabilities with a mission that has the potential to transform the way satellites are built,” said John Celli, president of SSL. “SSL has a track record of partnering with DARPA on cost-effective developments that leverage commercial practices and apply to both military and commercial use.”
During the first phase of the study, which will take about five months, SSL will analyze whether putting together satellites on orbit would lower cost and mass and increase performance. A focus of the program will be how to install and reconfigure large radio frequency (RF) antenna reflectors, the news release said.
The company hopes eventually to develop a prototype satellite assembly capability and submitted a proposal to NASA for potential ground and flight demonstrations, it added.
SSL is a subsidiary of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.