Lockheed Martin has opened a facility that streamlines small satellites (smallsat) processing to enable high-rate delivery.
The multi-million dollar facility will house the company’s Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites, among other smallsats programs and technology demonstrators.
The 20,000-square-foot low bay clean room, located on the company’s Waterton campus, will feature six scalable parallel assembly lines and is configurable to host different classifications of missions concurrently.
Built with flow and throughput in mind, the center is tailored to accommodate all stages of small satellites development, including spacecraft-level functional and performance testing.
Noteworthy, the facility hosts dedicated testing capabilities, including thermal cycle and electromagnetic chambers, scaled to efficiently build and test satellites ranging in size from CubeSats to small satellites.
The tailored fit reduces waste and optimizes energy and space, supporting the delivery of 180 satellites or more per year.
Currently, Lockheed Martin is developing more than 50 satellites for the SDA’s Transport Layer, which will provide military users with low-latency communication links through a resilient network of integrated capabilities from low-Earth orbit.
Further, Lockheed Martin’s 10 Tranche 0 Transport Layer satellites are expected to launch this year, while its 42 Tranche 1 satellites will soon move into processing in the new factory to support a 2024 launch.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
