The American aerospace startup Gravitics signed a subcontract with the defense giant Lockheed Martin for the construction of three spacecraft of a new type, which will perform the role of "orbital aircraft carriers" (Orbital Carriers).
These devices are being created to demonstrate US space missile defense technologies within the Pentagon's secret Golden Dome program (Golden dome).
Concept of "orbital carriers" from Gravitics:
Principle of operation: Замість класичного запуску окремих супутників із Землі, «орбітальний носій» є великою базовою платформою, що вже перебуває на орбіті. Several smaller ones are placed inside it, highly maneuverable interceptor satellites or countermeasures.
The main advantage – speed: In case of detection of a threat (example, launch of enemy ballistic or hypersonic missiles, or attempts to attack American satellites), the "carrier" is capable of instantly releasing the required apparatus directly into space. This allows bypassing the long wait and preparation for rocket launches from ground-based spaceports.
Multitasking: In addition to code-named military interception Diamondback, the architecture of Gravitics platforms is designed for the tactical movement of cargo and the urgent deployment of backup means of communication or intelligence in a matter of minutes.
This deal was a logical continuation of the startup's military successes. Earlier, Gravitics attracted 60 million dollars from the US Space Force under the STRATFI program for a flight demonstration of the capabilities of operational delivery of satellites to high-energy orbits. The company is also one of the contractors of the Missile Defense Agency (space segment integrator) USA under the large-scale SHIELD program.
Source: https://spacenews.com