Tactical Sat Headed for Orbit, Testing

Raytheon Co. has delivered the first of what it hopes will be a constellation of small, “disposable” satellites designed to give low-echelon ground forces in remote locations on-demand access to space imagery. Those squads and tactical teams currently lack access to satellite imagery provided by military or commercial platforms. Hence, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency launched a research effort in 2012 nicknamed “SeeMe,” for Space Enabled Effects for Military Engagements. The DARPA program has since been cancelled, but Raytheon continued internal development of a prototype satellite designed to quickly deliver high-resolution battlefield imagery comparable to commercial satellites. More

(Source: EE Times - Oct 22)