Rob Zitz, a senior vice president at Maxar Technologies’ SSL subsidiary, told SpaceNews in an interview published Monday that a space layer designed for missile defense will benefit from an end-to-end solution including sensors and satellites. Zitz, chief strategy officer for government systems at SSL, said artificial intelligence and other technology platforms will help facilitate data […] More

Two Maxar Technologies subsidiaries will work together to develop a space-based layer prototype concept designed to help the Missile Defense Agency detect and track missile threats. SSL will leverage and combine its space systems expertise with Radiant Solutions’ experience in ground systems engineering to build the Space Sensor Layer, Maxar said Wednesday. “We are honored […] More

NASA has picked Maxar Technologies’ SSL subsidiary to develop two spacecraft technologies under the agency’s Tipping Point program. SSL will work with NASA through a public-private partnership to demonstrate an in-orbit fuel transfer system to support on-orbit refueling and servicing missions, Maxar said Monday. The company and the space agency will also develop a dual-mode electric propulsion […] More

Rob Zitz, senior vice president and chief strategy officer of SSL‘s government systems business, has noted some technological innovations that he believes will drive the satellite and space industry in the coming years. “I believe we will see much more 3D printing to enable geometries and large structures that were not possible before,” Zitz said […] More

NASA has chosen Maxar Technologies’ SSL subsidiary to study the feasibility of using space-based commercial habitats as satellite manufacturing facilities. SSL said Wednesday it believes establishing a capacity to build satellites in space will help save time and resources by doing away with launch vehicle volumes and schedules, as well as help save the spacecraft from harsh conditions […] More

The Space Enterprise Consortium has chosen Maxar Technologies‘ SSL subsidiary to develop antenna subsystems for the U.S. Air Force‘s Space and Missile Systems Center to secure tactical satellite communications. SSL said Thursday it aims to create, analyze and test subsystem prototypes as part of a military satcom resiliency demonstration effort under the contract from the Advanced Technology International-managed consortium. Richard White, president of […] More

Maxar Technologies’ SSL subsidiary has been tapped by Zin Technologies to develop and test a flight system designed for NASA’s Psyche mission that aims to explore a metal asteroid and help shed light on the Earth’s formation. The agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory designed the Psyche Compute Element that will work as the main computer onboard […] More

A communications satellite SSL built for telecommunications firm PT Telkom Indonesia has started conducting post-launch maneuvers a day after its liftoff aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. Merah Putih released the satellite’s solar arrays and would fire its primary thruster to reach final orbit, SSL parent company Maxar Technologies said Tuesday. The system is designed to provide internet and telephone […] More

Rob Zitz, senior vice president and chief strategy officer for government systems at Maxar Technologies’ SSL subsidiary, has said he believes intelligence and defense agencies will look to small satellites in the next few years to build up the capabilities of large spacecraft owned and run by the government, SpaceNews reported Tuesday. “We see growth […] More

Maxar Technologies‘ SSL subsidiary and Thales Alenia Space have forged an alliance with the goal to build a fleet of low-Earth orbit satellites and an end-to-end system for Telesat. The partnership’s offering will include designing satellites, gateways, user terminals, operations centers and ground network, Maxar said Monday. Telesat aims to build a satellite constellation to deliver communications services intended […] More

Richard White, president of SSL Government Systems, said the development of on-orbit servicing technology can help accelerate innovation efforts meant to support future space missions, Geospatial World reported Friday. White added an SSL-designed servicer will work to integrate with government and commercial spacecraft in orbit. NASA awarded the Maxar Technologies subsidiary a five-year, $127 million […] More

Richard White, president of government systems business of Maxar Technologies’ SSL subsidiary, has said he believes on-orbit satellite servicing initiatives could transform the basic principles of how industry and government use and regard satellites, the Via Satellite magazine reported in its August 2018 issue. White mentioned the company’s on-orbit assembly work through the Dragonfly program with NASA […] More