{"id":509910,"date":"2024-12-09T19:14:44","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T00:14:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/?p=509910"},"modified":"2024-12-09T19:15:42","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T00:15:42","slug":"lockheed-martin-to-launch-5g-demonstration-on-firefly-rocket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/lockheed-martin-to-launch-5g-demonstration-on-firefly-rocket\/","title":{"rendered":"Lockheed Martin to launch 5G demonstration on Firefly rocket"},"content":{"rendered":"

ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 Lockheed Martin announced plans to launch its Tactical Satellite (TacSat) aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket in 2025, marking the second mission in a multi-launch agreement<\/a> between the aerospace giant and the upstart rocket company. <\/p>

The mission, funded internally by Lockheed Martin, aims to showcase cutting-edge technologies targeting the defense market.<\/p>

TacSat, a compact spacecraft about the size of a mini-fridge, is built on a Terran Orbital Zuma bus \u2014 a platform Lockheed Martin also employs for the Space Development Agency’s military network<\/a>. The satellite will carry an infrared imaging sensor and a 5G communications payload, both designed to address the Pentagon’s growing demand for “all-domain networks” that seamlessly link space assets with forces on the ground, at sea, and in the air.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

The 5G payload, described as providing “cellular-like networking,” is expected to enhance the resilience of satellite constellations while enabling real-time data sharing and improved coordination during military exercises. Meanwhile, the infrared sensor will bring a previously developed imaging technology into space for the first time, offering high-quality imagery for potential military applications.  <\/p>

The TacSat mission is part of Lockheed Martin’s broader strategy to respond to the Department of Defense’s push for multi-domain operations. This concept envisions seamless communication across all branches of the military and their assets, from satellites to fighter jets and naval vessels.  <\/p>

TacSat represents the second collaboration between Lockheed Martin and Firefly under their multi-launch agreement. The first mission, scheduled earlier, involves Lockheed Martin’s LM400 <\/a>medium satellite platform. <\/p>

Firefly\u2019s Alpha rocket, designed to launch up to 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit, has been gaining traction in the small-satellite launch market. <\/p>

Lockheed Martin said in a statement Dec. 9 that the TacSat spacecraft recently completed its final tests at the company’s facility in Littleton, Colorado.\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The \u2018TacSat\u2019 mission marks the second launch under Lockheed Martin’s multi-launch agreement with Firefly Aerospace. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10999,"featured_media":509911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"mc4wp_mailchimp_campaign":[],"newspack_featured_image_position":"beside","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4148,4149,4161],"tags":[4563,3824],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[2242],"class_list":["post-509910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commercial-archive","category-militaryspace-archive","category-news-archive","tag-firefly","tag-lockeed-martin","entry"],"yoast_head":"\nLockheed Martin to launch 5G demonstration on Firefly rocket - 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