Satellite provider Terran Orbital [LLAP] last week launched its Responsive Space Initiative that commits to delivering satellite buses to customers within 30 days and compete satellite systems, including integrated payloads, within 60 days.
As part of the new initiative, Terran on Monday officially opened a new 60,000 square-foot satellite manufacturing facility in Irvine Calif., expanding the size of its production complex there to 98,000 square-feet. The expansion allows the company to go from building 10 satellites a month to more than 20.
“This new factory addition will significantly improve both the efficiency and capacity of our entire production system,” Marc Bell, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Terran, said in a statement.
Terran recently announced seven new satellite stocking buses, which are the ones that will be part of the Responsive Space Initiative.
“Our advanced production capabilities through the implementation of automation and robotics are a game changer for the industry,” Terran said. “We are standardizing common components which can be stocked and are interchangeable depending on the bus configuration. We proudly design and manufacture 85 percent of all modules and components that go into a bus today.”
To help meet its rapid satellite manufacturing and delivery goals, Terran said it is stocking payloads provided by “best-of-breed payload suppliers,” including electro-optical, synthetic aperture, communications, hyperspectral, and other sensors and systems.
The requirements for rapid response to space are being driving by global hot zones where end customers want more intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities than can currently be met by satellite makers, Terran said.