Boeing announced on Monday that it is developing a family of small satellite prototypes, called Phantom Phoenix, for missions ranging from intelligence collection to planetary science. Sharing a common architecture, flight software, and simplified payload integration options, these satellites are designed to be manufactured and configured for specific missions “quickly and affordably,” according to the company’s April 8 release. “Our customers need greater mission flexibility from smaller satellites that can be built more affordably, and delivered more quickly, without sacrificing quality,” said Boeing Phantom Works President Darryl Davis. There are three Phantom Phoenix configurations: the Phantom Phoenix class of 500 kilogram-to-1,000 kg satellites; the Phantom Phoenix ESPA class of 180 kg spacecraft; and the Phantom Phoenix Nano class of 4 kg-to-10 kg nanosatellites. Davis said the Phantom Phoenix line addresses the market “between large geosynchronous spacecraft and nanosatellites.” Boeing said it would conduct initial technology development for these satellites at its facility in Huntington Beach, Calif.
The Air Force is shoring up its cyber defenses both on and off base for critical infrastructure such as water and electrical power, and industry experts are calling for more, even specialized, dedicated microgrids offsite to support USAF operations in case of a total blackout caused by cyberattacks.
