{"id":22774,"date":"2021-08-11T21:43:21","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T21:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/08\/11\/space-development-agency-launches-experimental-infrared-sensor-into-orbit\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T17:58:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:58:09","slug":"space-development-agency-launches-experimental-infrared-sensor-into-orbit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2021\/08\/11\/space-development-agency-launches-experimental-infrared-sensor-into-orbit\/","title":{"rendered":"Space Development Agency launches experimental infrared sensor into orbit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The Space Development Agency launched another experimental satellite Aug. 10 as it tries to reduce risk for its first satellites on orbit, set to begin launch in fall 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carried into orbit aboard the Cygnus NG-16 spacecraft during its Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station, the Prototype Infrared Payload, or PIRPL, will test the use of a multispectral sensor to detect ballistic missiles from low orbits. The payload will remain attached to the Cygnus N-16, burning up when the space vehicle deorbits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Established in 2019, SDA\u2019s mission is to develop a new proliferated constellation<\/a> made of hundreds of small satellites mostly operating in low Earth orbit \u2014 flying less than 1,200 miles above the Earth\u2019s surface. That\u2019s in contrast to most military constellations, which usually include just a handful of satellites in geostationary orbit flying 22,236 miles above the Earth\u2019s surface. Instead of launching the whole constellation at once, the agency is building out its architecture in two-year tranches, beginning with an initial constellation of about 30 satellites to begin launching in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\t