York Space Systems will integrate a government space domain awareness (SDA) into a spacecraft headed to Geostationary Orbit (GEO), marking the first time the company has integrated a satellite for GEO.
York announced Monday that cleared the delta critical design review (dCDR) for the U.S. Space Force Tetra 3 and Tetra 4 missions as the prime contractor. York will now proceed to build the spacecraft and expects delivery in the fourth quarter of this year.
The Tetra 3 and 4 missions will perform in-orbit threat presentation, independent range data collection, small satellite technology risk reduction, and experimental payload hosting. York is integrating payloads including a long wave infrared (LWIR) camera, a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor, and a GEO-qualified GPS side lobe receiver.
York reported that it incorporated a late-stage design change for a new propulsion system required for the mission, saying it incorporated the change without structural, thermal, or power impacts to the vehicle.
