SEAKR Engineering Demonstrates Optical Communications on DARPA’s Mandrake 2 Satellites

Push Release From: SEAKR Engineering
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2022

SEAKR Engineering, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, declared a profitable demonstration of optical inter-satellite back links between two Protection Innovative Investigate Assignments Agency Mandrake 2 satellites. For the duration of the 1st examination, more than 280 gigabits of facts have been transferred at a vary of 114 kilometers in the course of a period of far more than 40 minutes.

“This was a demonstration not only of optical communications in area but also a closer look at some of the foundational setting up blocks needed for a networked house architecture,” mentioned Jeff Schrader, president of SEAKR Engineering and Blue Canyon Systems.

Below DARPA’s Blackjack venture, two Mandrake 2 spacecraft ended up introduced last calendar year to show advanced laser communications. The satellites, named Able and Baker, ended up outfitted with SA Photonics optical links onboard an Astro Electronic bus. ASI supplied the satellite software program needed to function the autos. SEAKR, the prime contractor, led the program integration of both satellites.

At first scheduled for a January 2021 start, a pre-start incident weakened both of those Equipped and Baker satellites. SEAKR was in a position to maintenance and rebuild the satellites, and then provide them for start in considerably less than six months.

“This latest on-orbit demonstration was the culmination of various companies functioning in tandem to address a variety of worries,” said Scott Lowery, SEAKR Mandrake program manager.

SEAKR also led the Mandrake 1 software that concluded its mission, creating Complex Readiness Degree 9 for some of the highest carrying out CPUs to ever fly. These processing factors are the building blocks for DARPA’s Pitboss and upcoming Struggle Management Command Command and Communication programs. Like Mandrake 2, the program for Mandrake 1 was 9 months from software award to launch integration.

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