In a significant advancement for satellite technology, Redwire has appointed Voyager Technologies to deliver its Acceleration Measurement System (AMS) for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s innovative Otter spacecraft program. This collaboration positions Redwire as the prime contractor, with Voyager playing a crucial role in supplying precision measurement hardware essential for tracking acceleration and delta-V, which are critical for executing orbital maneuvers.
The AMS system is designed to facilitate operations in very low Earth orbit (VLEO), where satellites encounter heightened atmospheric drag and gravitational forces, necessitating regular propulsion adjustments to sustain altitude. The technology has previously been employed in NASA missions, including the highly acclaimed Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, which involved a four-spacecraft effort to study Earth’s magnetic environment.
DARPA’s Otter program aims to pioneer “air-breathing” electric propulsion technology for satellites operating in VLEO, specifically within altitudes ranging from 90 to 450 kilometers (56 to 280 miles). Traditional satellites depend heavily on a finite supply of onboard fuel; however, the Otter initiative seeks to revolutionize this model by harnessing low-density atmospheric particles, ionizing them, and utilizing the resultant material as propellant.
Given the challenges of accurately replicating VLEO conditions on Earth, the program is set to culminate in a spaceflight demonstration extending over a year. This ambitious mission will serve as an “orbiting wind tunnel,” gathering invaluable real-world data on the performance of air-breathing propulsion systems. The findings from this mission are poised to validate the technology’s capability to produce adequate thrust in orbit and enhance modeling tools for future designs of VLEO satellites.
As the aerospace industry moves towards more sustainable and efficient technologies, the successful implementation of the AMS in the Otter program represents a critical step toward extending the operational capabilities of satellites in low Earth orbit.
