Three satellites built by the Space Flight Laboratory 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, the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) has developed 30 radio frequency geolocation microsatellites for Hawkeye 360.
Hawkeye 360 announced shortly After deployment, they successfully established contact with all three satellites.
They added that the “trio of satellites will increase the company’s constellation to 31, significantly increasing global RF monitoring capabilities. Group 10 will bolster HawkEye 360’s ability to make frequent visits to areas of strategic interest. Once operational, these satellites will enhance data collection, providing more comprehensive coverage and timely information in vital regions.”
While all three satellites were developed by SFL, the integration was carried out at HawkEye 360's facility in Virginia. This is a service offered as a result of SFL Flexible Production ProgramWith this program, customers have the possibility to choose between 4 levels of flexible production:
- Maximum production — SFL builds the first satellite and transfers its production to the customer
- Essential production — SFL builds the first satellite and all subsequent satellites
- Production Plus — SFL builds the first satellite and mass produces the rest with a partner
- Production assistance — SFL builds the first satellite and transfers the integration of the platform and payload to the customer
The SpaceX Transporter-11 rideshare mission carried 116 payloads, including the U.K. Space Command’s Tyche satellite, a 150-kilogram imaging satellite built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. in conjunction with the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Arctic Weather Satellite, a prototype of a proposed constellation for Europe’s weather agency Eumetsat. SpaceX said it has now “launched more than 1,000 smallsats for more than 130 customers across our rideshare program.”
