Three Space Flight Laboratory built satellites were launched on Friday, August 16 on the SpaceX Transporter-11 rideshare mission. The satellites were built for Hawkeye 360’s Cluster 10 mission.
With this launch, Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) has now developed 30 radio frequency geolocation microsatellites satellites for Hawkeye 360.
Hawkeye 360 announced shortly after their deployment that they had successfully made contact with all three satellites.
They added that the “trio of satellites will increase the company’s constellation to 31, significantly augmenting global RF monitoring capabilities. Cluster 10 will reinforce HawkEye 360’s capacity for frequent revisits to areas of strategic interest. Once operational, these satellites will enhance data collection, providing more comprehensive coverage and timely information across vital regions.”
While the three satellites were developed by SFL, integration took place in HawkEye 360’s Virginia facility. This is a service offered as a result of SFL’s Flex Production Program. With that program customers have the choice of 4 Levels of Flex Production:
- Production Max — SFL builds first satellite and transfers satellite production to Customer
- Production Essential — SFL builds first satellite and all satellites after
- Production Plus — SFL builds first satellite and mass produces the rest with a partner
- Production Assist — SFL builds first satellite and transfers platform-payload integration to Customer
The SpaceX Transporter-11 rideshare mission had 116 payloads including the United Kingdom Space Command Tyche satellite, a 150-kilogram imaging satellite built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. along with the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Arctic Weather Satellite, a prototype of a proposed constellation for the European meteorological agency Eumetsat. SpaceX said it has now “launched more than 1,000 smallsats for 130+ customers across our entire Rideshare program.”