Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space venture, is set to demonstrate the technology for its Blue Ring orbital platform during an upcoming mission sponsored by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit. The Blue Ring is a multi-mission, multi-orbit vehicle designed to provide logistical services in orbit. Known as DarkSky-1, this Pentagon-backed mission will showcase Blue Origin’s flight system, space-based data processing and storage capabilities, ground-based tracking, and telemetry, tracking, and command hardware. Blue Origin’s senior vice president, Paul Ebertz, believes that the lessons learned from this mission will help in advancing Blue Ring’s capabilities to provide greater access to multiple orbits, bringing us closer to a future where millions of people live and work in space for the benefit of Earth.
The DarkSky-1 system is expected to be launched as a payload on a future national-security space launch by the U.S. Space Force. The launch service provider and exact timeline have not been disclosed yet, but a license application filed with the Federal Communications Commission suggests the launch will take place in the fourth quarter of 2024. The payload will remain attached to the launch vehicle’s upper stage and follow an elliptical orbit ranging from 2,500 to 21,000 kilometers in altitude. This mission is expected to last no more than 12 hours. While the cost of the mission was not specified, the Defense Department has awarded Blue Origin $4.9 million for the development of multi-orbit logistics vehicles.
The DarkSky-1 mission aims to test Blue Origin’s technology for the Blue Ring orbital platform, which is a crucial step towards enabling logistical services in orbit. This mission will demonstrate the flight system, space-based data processing and storage capabilities, as well as ground-based tracking and telemetry hardware. Blue Origin believes that the lessons learned from this mission will significantly enhance Blue Ring’s ability to provide access to multiple orbits, ultimately bringing humanity closer to a future where living and working in space is a reality. The successful demonstration of this technology could pave the way for greater commercial and scientific opportunities in space.
The upcoming DarkSky-1 mission represents a significant milestone in Blue Origin’s efforts to develop and test the technology for the Blue Ring orbital platform. This multi-mission vehicle is designed to support various logistical services in orbit, with the ultimate goal of enabling millions of people to live and work in space for the benefit of Earth. By participating in this Pentagon-sponsored mission, Blue Origin is demonstrating the capabilities of its flight system, data processing, and storage technology, as well as telemetry and tracking hardware. The successful execution of this mission will be a crucial step towards achieving Blue Origin’s vision of expanding human presence in space.
While specific details about the DarkSky-1 mission have not been disclosed, the U.S. Space Force is expected to provide the launch service for this important demonstration. The mission payload will be attached to the launch vehicle’s upper stage and follow an elliptical orbit at varying altitudes. The duration of the mission is projected to be no more than 12 hours. Despite the lack of information about the mission cost, contract filings reveal that the Defense Department has allocated $4.9 million to Blue Origin for the development of multi-orbit logistics vehicles. This funding will support Blue Origin’s efforts to advance the technology needed to enable logistical services in space and open up new opportunities for commercial and scientific activities in orbit.
