Lockheed Martin has taken part in a U.S. Space Force exercise designed to test how quickly satellites can be prepared and launched during a crisis.
The VICTUS DIEM exercise, conducted at Vandenberg Space Force Base, saw Lockheed Martin work with Firefly Aerospace to simulate rapid payload processing and launch operations under a compressed timeline, according to the company.
As part of the demonstration, teams completed payload processing in under 12 hours and carried out a full launch simulation within 36 hours of receiving a notional tasking order. The exercise forms part of a wider push by the Space Force to develop tactically responsive space capabilities, allowing assets to be placed into orbit at short notice in response to emerging threats.
“Speed in space operations has never been more critical,” said Kate Watts, vice president of Enterprise Strategy at Lockheed Martin Space, adding that the exercise provided feedback from government customers on rapid deployment concepts.
The activity focused on refining procedures for emergency launch scenarios, where the ability to quickly deploy or replace space-based capabilities could prove decisive. According to the Space Force, the exercise also demonstrated the role of commercial partners in delivering responsive space operations.
The VICTUS DIEM programme is part of ongoing efforts to reduce timelines for satellite deployment, with an emphasis on integrating industry capabilities into operational planning.
I seem to remember Lockheed Martin having a similar contract in the UK to demonstrate rapid space launch capability from the Highland space port.
Hopefully we get skyrora up and running at Saxaford as every launch provider the Johnson government picked has gone bust (Orbex, Virgin space)
Skyrora is the only one the UK government didn’t invest in.