Image source: topwar.ru
In the USA, it was decided to postpone the testing of intersatellite laser communication, the project of which was named Blackjack. This is evidenced by the fact that the official representative of the research organization DARPA subordinate to the Pentagon could not name the exact date of the launch of two Telesat birds satellites into Earth orbit.
Teresa Hitchens came to this conclusion in her article published in the American magazine Breaking Defense.
A representative of DARPA said that the launch of spacecraft is expected, without naming its dates. It is planned to conduct a test session of laser communication between the two satellites within the framework of the project. But, according to the statements of the government and representatives of the companies involved in the project, there is no available window to launch the devices in the near future.
- said Rich Pang, Telesat's Vice President for Corporate Development, participating in the Satellite 2023 exhibition.
He noted that the company, together with DARPA, uses a Falcon 9 launch vehicle from SpaceX to launch. Pang said that, according to the latest data, the launch of the devices will take place in January next year.
Image source: topwar.ru
Earlier it was reported that the purpose of the Blackjack project is to create an Internet communication system for the US Army based on information and command satellite networks. The government commissioned Lockheed Martin to integrate the work of the companies involved in the project.
