Rocket Lab to test Space Force data network connection in orbit in 2027
Rocket Lab plans to use one of its Photon spacecraft for an in-orbit demonstration of the U.S. Space Force's Space Data Network in 2027.
The company on Aug. 18 provided new details on how the military intends to test connections between the SpaceX-built network backbone and satellites from other suppliers.
Rocket Lab's $12 million contract for the Space Data Network work includes a Photon spacecraft equipped with optical communications and networking hardware to demonstrate interoperability in orbit.
The Space Systems Command last week named Rocket Lab as one of five companies selected for a $60 million effort to demonstrate how different commercial satellite systems can connect to the Space Data Network, or SDN. Amazon LEO for Government, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and York Space Systems also received $12 million apiece.
Rocket Lab's announcement provides the first specifics on how at least one of the contractors plans to conduct its on-orbit test.
Photon is the company's configurable satellite platform used for government, commercial and exploration missions.
The company said the $12 million award covers design and ground testing ahead of the flight.
The SDN is a planned military communications architecture designed to move large volumes of data among satellites and between space and the ground. SpaceX in May received a $2.29 billion contract to build the Space Data Network Backbone, or SDN-B, a proliferated constellation using optical links to route data from satellite to satellite.
The Space Force is separately trying to establish common interfaces that would allow spacecraft and networks from other suppliers to connect to that backbone, avoiding an architecture dependent on proprietary technology from a single company.
Rocket Lab said its Photon demonstration will test secure optical communications interoperability between satellites and ground systems.
The five companies are part of the Space Data Network consortium, which Space Systems Command established to work through the technical and architectural challenges of connecting systems supplied by multiple vendors.
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