Small satellite line launched by Boeing
NewsApril 10, 2013
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. Boeing engineers are designing new small satellite prototypes, dubbed Phantom Phoenix, that can be manufactured and configured quickly and cost-effectively for specific missions such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and planetary science. Each satellite unit would share flight software, common architecture, ,and simplified payload integration options.
The Phantom Phoenix prototypes have three configurations:
Phantom Phoenix -- 500 to 1,000 kg mid-class -- which is designed for single and dual launch;
Phantom Phoenix ESPA -- 180 kg ESPA-class -- which attaches to a common interstage adapter enabling more than one satellite to be launched at a time (For this configuration as many as six small satellites can be deployed during one mission, which reduces launch costs.);
Phantom Phoenix Nano -- 4 to 10 kg nanosatellite -- which offers affordable technology for weather and science missions.
Phantom Phoenix will be designed for all major launch vehicles and equipped with custom avionics and selective redundancy options. The satellites also will feature high autonomy, low-risk integration, streamlined operations. The new line of satellites will target the market between large geosynchronous spacecraft and nanosatellites. Boeing engineers will perform initial technology development in Huntington Beach, Calif.
