LightSat Initiative

DARPA's first-generation LightSat military communications initiative, spanning the 1990 MACSAT demonstrations and the seven Microsats deployed in 1991. The managed system provided UHF radio relay and store-and-forward communications for military exercises and operational support, then transitioned to Naval Space Command.

Identity

Aliases: LightSatLightSat Microsat ConstellationDARPA Microsat constellationLightSat demonstration system
Domains: spaceflight
Name: LightSat Initiative
Status: completed

Details

Description: DARPA's first-generation LightSat military communications initiative, spanning the 1990 MACSAT demonstrations and the seven Microsats deployed in 1991. The managed system provided UHF radio relay and store-and-forward communications for military exercises and operational support, then transitioned to Naval Space Command.
End Date: 1991
Start Date: 1990

Assets & Meta

Creation Time: July 31, 2026 at 23:06:05 UTC
Updated Time: July 31, 2026 at 23:06:05 UTC

Other

Leads
Official Urls: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/presrep1991.pdfhttps://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/presrep1989-90.pdf?emrc=6827a5c0c025ahttps://www.gao.gov/assets/nsiad-90-154fs.pdf
Participants: -
Types: developmentoperations