Multinational aerospace and defense company Boeing announced that it has launched a new series of small satellites via its research arm, Boeing Phantom Works. Weighing up to 1,000 kilos, the Phantom Phoenix satellite fleet can be used for short-term experiments or operational missions lasting seven or more years.
Boeing called the new small satellites a multi-billion dollar one in the next couple of years, mostly within the U.S Department of Defense and intelligence agencies, as well as from commercial ventures. Hence, three prototypes are currently being developed by Phantom Works to exhibit what these can do.
These three include: the Phantom Phoenix,a 500 to 1,000 kg mid-class designed for single and dual launch; the Phantom Phoenix ESPA, a 180 kg ESPA-class that connects to a common interstage adapter allowing for more than one satellite launch at a time; and the Phantom Phoenix Nano, a 4 to 10 kg nanosatellite that provides opportunities for missions involving science and weather.
The company expects the new satellites to pave the way for new possibilities of applications that have not been considered before. It compares the small satellites to the all-electric 702SP satellite platform launched by Boeing Satellite Systems recently. The platform allows missions that would traditionally need bigger and heavier spacecraft. The key for this new platform is the common avionics and software package that is compatible with various configurations.
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