• 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

SatNews

  • HOME
  • Magazines
  • Events
  • Perspectives
  • Industry Calendar
    • IN PERSON
    • VIRTUAL
  • Subscribe

SEAKER’s DARPA Pit Boss Hardware Demo Now Has 9-Months of On-Orbit Success

January 6, 2021

SEAKR® Engineering, Inc. (SEAKR) has realized their on-orbit technology demonstration of Pit Boss supercomputing processing hardware in nine months as part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Blackjack Program.

Pit Boss is an autonomous, collaborative, distributed space-based enterprise designed to self-task, process, and distribute tactically relevant information to manned and unmanned subscribers.  

Artist rendition of the Mandrake I smallsat on-orbit. Image is courtesy of SEAKR Engineering.

As Pit Boss prime, SEAKR supports the Blackjack program with two risk reduction demonstration flights as LEO rideshares. The first demonstration, Mandrake I, a cubesat, validates key Pit Boss hardware and chip level technologies prior to full production.  The experimental orbital platform includes a digital twin and provides ‘real-time’ efficacy feedback on LEO radiation mitigations and processor performance. The single satellite system launch supports early evaluation and characterization for risk reduction in technology development. 

The second demonstration, Mandrake II, aims to advance laser communications between satellites and to ground or airborne assets with Blackjack constellation laser terminals.  

DARPA’s Blackjack program focuses on integrating commercial satellite technologies into a constellation of affordable, small, secure, and resilient military satellites. Mandrake efforts combine mission development and management services, integration coordination, as well as mission operations, data reduction and processor prototype development.  The Mandrake program supports  the Blackjack program’s mission by aiming to reduce risk and validating key technologies and capabilities to expand operational fidelity.  

SEAKR Engineering is a provider of advanced electronics for space applications. The company desigsn and manufactures processors, command and data handling systems, advanced payloads, and manned space hardware.  Founded in 1982, SEAKR continues their innovation with state-of-the-art space communications processors that are capable of channelization and beamforming.

Filed Under: Agencies, Analysis / Reports, Government, SmallSat

Primary Sidebar

Most Read Stories

  • AST Space Mobile To Become A Publicly Traded Company
  • UPDATE: Spaceflight's Orbital Transfer Vehicles Have Launches In Sight
  • CNES Selects ANYWAVES For Reflectarray Antenna For Smallsats Demo
  • Airbus Qualifies Their 5m Deployable Antenna Reflector
  • UPDATE: Rocket Lab's First Launch Of 2021 For OHB Group Set For January 16

About Satnews

  • Contacts
  • History

Archives

  • 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.OkPrivacy policy
We Love Our Advertisers.
And you will too!

Please disable your adblock browser plugin to continue...

We promise to keep it unobtrusive.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.
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!