• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • NEWS:
  • SatNews
  • SatMagazine
  • MilSatMagazine
  • SmallSat News
  • |     EVENTS:
  • SmallSat Symposium
  • Satellite Innovation
  • MilSat Symposium

SatNews

  • HOME
  • Magazines
  • Events
  • SmallSat Europe Insights
  • Industry Calendar
    • IN PERSON
    • VIRTUAL
  • Subscribe

UPDATE: Spaceflight’s Orbital Transfer Vehicles Have Launches In Sight

December 13, 2020

Spaceflight will launch 16 payloads on the upcoming SXRS-3 mission, slated for early 2021. Of the 16 payloads Spaceflight is managing on this launch, 14 of them will launch on Spaceflight’s Sherpa-FX orbital transfer vehicle (OTV). The OTV is Spaceflight’s debut vehicle from its Sherpa-NG (next generation) program. Two of the payloads integrated onto Sherpa-FX are hosted payloads. 

Sherpa-FX: “Go Now”

Spaceflight’s Sherpa-FX is the first innovative orbital transfer vehicle to debut in the company’s Sherpa-NG program. The vehicle is capable of executing multiple deployments, providing independent and detailed deployment telemetry, and flexible interfaces, all at a low cost.

Details:

  • Flying no earlier than December 2020 (SXRS-3), carrying 14 spacecraft
  • 24” ESPA-class deployment system
  • Multiple deployments: Separates from a launch vehicle prior to deploying any satellites, with satellite separations initiated by onboard avionics once clear of the launch vehicle
  • Hosted payload capable
  • Quickly configurable; can move from vehicle-to-vehicle and mission-to-mission 
  • Independent, world-wide telemetry via GlobalStar 
  • Uses heritage and commercially available components
  • Low cost, flexible aggregation
  • On orbit life: 4-7 years

Sherpa-LTC: “Go Fast”

Designed with launch vehicle flexibility as a requirement, the Sherpa-LTC features a high thrust, bi-propellant, green propulsion subsystem integrated seamlessly within the available space of the original free flyer. By including this new propulsion technology from Benchmark Space Systems, Sherpa-LTC provides a low cost, rapid orbital transfer for many sizes of small spacecraft. It’s compatible with all launch vehicles Spaceflight currently works with.

Details:

  • Flying: Second half 2021
  • Addresses orbit raise and lowering, in-plane phasing and exploration missions
  • Features chemical propulsion system via a Benchmark Space Systems
  • Hosted payload capable
  • Impulsive (fast) maneuvering
  • Tuned for SpaceX Starlink and other similar missions – effectively and quickly deploy one or multiple satellites to higher orbits after initial drop off
  • Industry-leading price

Sherpa-LTE: “Go Far”

This Electric Propulsion OTV builds on the initial Sherpa program by incorporating a high specific impulse (Isp), Xenon propellant. It incorporates ACE (Apollo Constellation Engine), a low thrust, high efficiency, radiation hardened Hall thruster propulsion system developed by Apollo Fusion, Inc. As ACE systems are able to generate over 6 km/s of delta-V, Sherpa-LTE has the capability to deliver spacecraft to GEO, Cislunar, or Earth-escape orbits. The Sherpa-LTE provides a low-cost alternative to purchasing full direct-inject launch vehicles and extends the ability of small launch vehicles that are currently under development to reach beyond low Earth orbit.

Details:

  • Flying: Mid-2021
  • Sherpa-LTE addresses LTAN and plane changes
  • High dV orbit raise capability, inclination changes or Earth escape
  • High Isp, Xenon propellant electric propulsion from Apollo Fusion enables efficient maneuvering needed for orbital angle changes
  • Hosted payload capable
  • 3X the performance of other market options, including improved flexibility and operational resilience
  • Tuned for GTO missions

Executive Comments

Grant Bonin

“When there are no launches that meet our customers’ exact needs, Spaceflight now will be able to provide more options to achieve their mission objectives,” said Grant Bonin, SVP of business development for Spaceflight Inc. “Our goal is to get our customers’ spacecraft delivered to orbit exactly when and where they want it, all the way to their final destination — that last leg of the journey. Our new Sherpa OTVs enable us to provide that in-space delivery service, while keeping costs low and timelines short.”

Curt Blake

“We have a successful track record of developing and deploying spacecraft from in-space vehicles,” added Curt Blake, President and CEO of Spaceflight. “Our first orbital free flyers were on the historic SSO-A mission, which successfully delivered 64 unique spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 to orbit. We are excited to build on our 10 years of launch experience learnings to develop these new advanced vehicles which will provide even more flexible launch options and customized orbital delivery for our customers.”

Spaceflight works with more than 10 current and future launch vehicles, including Falcon 9, Antares, Electron, Vega, and PSLV, to provide a variety of launch options to its customers. The company has launched more than 300 satellites across nearly 34 rideshare missions. In 2019, the company successfully executed nine missions, the most it’s ever launched in one year, sending more than 50 payloads to space.

Filed Under: OTV, Satellites

Primary Sidebar

Most Read Stories

  • In celebration of Juneteenth
  • Wishing Everyone a Happy July 4th … Independence Day, U.S.A.
  • Eutelsat's efforts to obtain funding to save OneWeb
  • Forrester's Digest: Starlink active in Iran
  • SpaceX's launch on Friday of Starlink Group 10-34 smallsats may have weather issues

About Satnews

  • Contacts
  • History

Archives

  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020

Secondary Sidebar

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
x
Sign up Now (For Free)
Access daily or weekly satellite news updates covering all aspects of the commercial and military satellite industry.
Invalid email address
Notify Me Regarding ( At least one ):
We value your privacy and will not sell or share your email or other information with any other company. You may also unsubscribe at anytime.

Click Here to see our full privacy policy.
Thanks for subscribing!