WASHINGTON — Space startup True Anomaly is preparing for the launch of its first two satellites, designed to maneuver in close proximity to other objects, inspect them and take pictures.
True Anomaly, founded in 2022 and fresh off a $100 million fundraising round, intends to demonstrate the capabilities of its Jackal spacecraft to perform in-orbit activities known as rendezvous and proximity operations.
“The Jackals will capture high-resolution images and full-motion video of one another while maneuvering in close proximity,” True Anomaly’s founder and chief executive Even Rogers said in a recent interview.
Two Jackal spacecraft, each about 300 kilograms, are scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the upcoming Transporter-10 rideshare.
The company, based in Centennial, Colorado, focuses on the military market, aiming to deploy Jackal satellites in support of U.S. Space Force activities. Military units, for example, could use the satellites to train operators in maneuver tactics, to practice proximity operations or to test payloads in orbit.
‘Purpose built for national security missions’
Rogers described Jackal as “a new class of space vehicle, purpose-built for national security space missions.” With Jackal, the company is looking to compete in the market for non-Earth imagery, or the imaging of objects in space, a nascent sector of the industry. These capabilities can now be offered commercially following changes in the licensing process announced last year by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
True Anomaly received a NOAA license in August for the first Jackal mission in low Earth orbit.
The company plans to seek license modifications as it looks to field additional satellites of similar capability. “We will file new license applications, as necessary, to cover larger constellations, different missions or orbits such as GEO, and new design variants,” a True Anomaly…
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