[Satellite TODAY 06-10-10] Raytheon Co.’s Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer (ARTEMIS) and Alliant Techsystems’ (ATK) spacecraft bus have completed their one-year experimental missions aboard the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s TacSat-3 satellite, the companies announced June 10.
    U.S. Air Force Space Command will now take control of TacSat-3 with the intent to use ARTEMIS in an operational capacity.
    TacSat-3 originated as part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s operationally responsive space initiative, to provide field commanders with real-time tactical surveillance data from space. The TacSat-3 program was designed by the Air Force to demonstrate the feasibility of developing and launching a military payload within extremely tight schedule and budget constraints.
    ATK acted as TacSat-3’s prime contractor. Raytheon said it is discussing opportunities for rapidly deploying additional hyperspectral space sensors with several government customers.