The Defense Innovation Unit has selected Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to provide a new monolithic telescope for a responsive space mission, which Firefly Aerospace will launch as early as 2027.
LLNL said Thursday the monolithic telescope includes two optical telescopes and an electronics module with an NVIDIA processor and is designed to be robust and highly adaptable for a range of optical payload configurations and missions. It is expected to be completed and delivered within 13 months. Firefly Aerospace will host and operate the device on board its Elytra orbital vehicle, which will be deployed to low Earth orbit, under a cooperative research and development agreement.
New Space Capabilities for DOD
Benjamin Bahney, LLNL’s space program leader, said the mission “will prove a new capability for future highly maneuverable, responsive in-space imaging missions for the U.S. Defense Department in a variety of possible orbits including in deep space and into the lunar regime.”
The anticipated space event will mark LLNL’s third mission to develop rapid space payloads for the Department of Defense, following the Tactically Responsive Launch-2 mission in 2021 and the Victus Haze mission expected for liftoff as early as 2025. It will support the DIU’s Sinequone project aimed at delivering cost-effective, responsive access to xGEO orbits located a little more than 22,000 miles above the Earth.
“We are thrilled to be selected by DIU for this mission, continuing LLNL’s work to supply the Defense Department with our monolith payloads to support responsive space missions and prove out new capabilities for defense of the space domain,” said John Ganino, LLNL’s space hardware lead.
