BlackStar
BlackStar Orbital and OrbitsEdge have formalized a partnership through a mutual Letter of Intent covering the acquisition of 20 ProxOps modules and 2 additional 100W EdgeCompute modules. These space-hardened computing units will support orbital operations aboard the BlackStar-C, described as "the world's first fully reusable spaceplane / satellite hybrid known as a 'Space Drone'."
Partnership Vision
The BlackStar-C functions as a mothership capable of deploying and controlling a fleet of small cubesats for diverse on-orbit missions. OrbitsEdge provides the infrastructure needed to bring commercial-grade data center computing to space environments, enabling capabilities currently impractical in orbit.
"The capability BlackStar Orbital provides ties in very well with on orbit computation and high levels of storage," notes Richard Ward, OrbitsEdge's CTO. This collaboration aims to facilitate autonomous operations, assembly, maintenance, and manufacturing in space while improving Earth observation analytics.
BlackStar-C Capabilities
- Accommodates up to 200 kg payload capacity
- Deploys up to 60U of CubeSat hardware
- Reusable design reduces environmental impact and operational costs
- Compatible with multiple launch systems
- Enables on-orbit servicing and refueling