Lockheed Martin has participated in a U.S. Space Force maneuver aimed at evaluating how swiftly satellites can be readied and deployed during a crisis.
The VICTUS DIEM drill, held at Vandenberg Space Force Base, involved Lockheed Martin collaborating with Firefly Aerospace to replicate expeditious payload preparation and deployment activities under an expedited schedule, the firm reported.
As part of the showcase, teams accomplished cargo handling in under 12 hours and executed a comprehensive launch simulation within 36 hours of receiving a hypothetical directive. This exercise constitutes a component of a broader initiative by the Space Force to cultivate strategically agile space capabilities, thereby enabling assets to be placed into orbit promptly in reaction to nascent dangers.
“Rapidity in space endeavors has never been more vital,” remarked Kate Watts, vice president of Corporate Strategy at Lockheed Martin Space, further noting that the drill offered insights from government customers regarding swift placement strategies.
The undertaking concentrated on refining protocols for urgent deployment situations, where the capacity to swiftly position or substitute orbital assets could prove crucial. As per the Space Force, the exercise also highlighted the contribution of private sector collaborators in executing agile orbital activities.
The VICTUS DIEM initiative is a component of continuous endeavors to shorten schedules for satellite placement, with a focus on incorporating private sector proficiencies into mission strategizing.