Hosted Payload Solutions provide a cost-effective and efficient way to access space by integrating sensors, instrumentation, and other payloads onto existing satellite platforms that have excess capacity. This innovative approach eliminates the need for separate satellite systems, significantly reducing costs and timelines. L3Harris supports mission planners by offering expert advice on options for space access and designing tailored payloads to meet specific needs. Leveraging strong relationships with satellite operators and extensive technical expertise, L3Harris ensures seamless integration of payloads with both satellite and ground systems, while adhering to rigorous processes for aligning technical and business objectives throughout the hosted payload program lifecycle.
The ICBM Post Boost Vehicles are advanced systems designed to enhance the performance and reliability of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Featuring a robust gas storage assembly and dual propellant storage assemblies that utilize a hypergolic mixture of nitrogen tetroxide and monomethylhydrazine, these vehicles are equipped with a gimbaled axial engine and ten attitude-control engines. Packaged within a cylindrical metal shell measuring approximately 52 inches in diameter and 18.9 inches long, the PSRE ensures precise maneuverability and control during critical phases of flight. This technology plays a vital role in modern defense strategies, providing enhanced capabilities for strategic deterrence.
The LGM-35A Sentinel is a cutting-edge intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by L3Harris, designed to enhance national security through advanced propulsion technology. Recently, the company successfully completed the critical design review for the post-boost propulsion system, marking a significant milestone towards achieving flight readiness. With a rich history of powering every U.S. Air Force ICBM, L3Harris is committed to innovation and affordability in its manufacturing processes. The new Advanced Manufacturing Facility in Huntsville, Alabama, alongside the Engineering, Manufacturing & Development facility in Camden, Arkansas, focuses on producing large solid rocket motors using state-of-the-art techniques. Additionally, investments in precision liquid rocket propulsion at the Canoga Park, California facility further enhance the performance and cost-effectiveness of Sentinel’s propulsion systems through the use of proprietary materials and innovative manufacturing processes.
The Secure Satellite Communications Encryption Unit (CDU-200) by L3Harris Telemetry & RF Products is a cutting-edge integrated decryptor designed to enhance the security of satellite command links. Leveraging over 35 years of expertise in aerospace technology, the CDU-200 utilizes a one-time programmable FPGA and a FIPS 197-compliant AES-256 algorithm to secure uplink data and authenticate commands, all within a compact and lightweight housing. This next-generation unit serves as a direct drop-in replacement for the CDU-100, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems while maintaining identical command, data, and telemetry operations. With a telemetry capacity of 64 bits for health and status reporting and a mission life of up to 15 years, the CDU-200 is engineered for reliability in high-stakes environments. It supports data rates up to 1 Mbps with 16 selectable keys, making it suitable for various applications, including those requiring compliance with CNSSP-12 and SECRET and BELOW (SAB) standards for both domestic and allied use.
The Secure Satellite Communications Encryption Unit (MCU-110C) is a cutting-edge integrated encryptor/decryptor designed to provide robust security for satellite communication links. Building on the success of its predecessor, the MCU-110B, this miniature COMSEC unit has delivered over 130 units with a flawless on-orbit performance record. It features advanced capabilities, including uplink decryption rates of up to 5 Mbps and downlink encryption rates of up to 10 Mbps, utilizing the Carousel algorithm and Pegasus ASIC technology. The MCU-110C supports over-the-air rekeying (OTAR) with 256-selectable keys, ensuring flexibility and security in key management. Its radiation-hardened design is engineered for missions lasting up to 15 years, making it a reliable choice for high-stakes applications. With a compact form factor and backward compatibility with legacy systems, the MCU-110C stands as a testament to L3Harris's commitment to delivering low-risk, high-reliability solutions for secure communications in space.
L3Harris Space and Intelligence Communications offers reliable solutions designed to endure extreme environments, specifically tailored to support Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) systems. With over 50 years of experience in delivering radio frequency (RF) communications for space, weapons, and missile defense, L3Harris is a trusted leader in providing certified and secure implementations for RF technologies. The company specializes in developing National Security Agency-compliant information assurance products and possesses extensive knowledge in satellite, weapons, signals intelligence (SIGINT), and SATCOM missions. Their proven ability to provide both strategic and tactical mission support makes them a key partner for the U.S. Government and industry stakeholders facing complex challenges.
L3Harris has been at the forefront of additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, for over two decades, focusing on its application in rocket engine and defense systems. This innovative technology significantly reduces lead times, lowers costs, and allows for unprecedented design flexibility, enabling the creation of complex components that traditional manufacturing methods cannot achieve. L3Harris employs metal additive manufacturing at its facilities in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Los Angeles, California, producing high-quality metal alloy parts for aerospace and defense applications. The company's commitment to this technology enhances its capabilities in delivering advanced propulsion systems, including components for the AR1, RL10, and NASA's Orion Crew Module. By integrating additive manufacturing into its production processes, L3Harris is not only improving efficiency but also accelerating the development of hypersonic flight technologies.
The RL10 Engine, developed by L3Harris, has been a cornerstone of space exploration for over six decades, successfully launching hundreds of military, government, and commercial spacecraft into orbit and beyond. This innovative engine has played a crucial role in missions to every planet in our solar system, including the historic Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 missions that ventured into interstellar space. Renowned as the launch industry's "workhorse," various RL10 variants power the upper stages of United Launch Alliance's Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy rockets, as well as NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which aims to carry astronauts to deep-space destinations. The RL10's legacy continues with the development of the RL10C-X, a modern iteration that utilizes advanced 3D printing technology to enhance manufacturing efficiency while ensuring exceptional performance and reliability.
The RS-25 Engine, developed by L3Harris, is a high-performance rocket engine that evolved from the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), which powered 135 successful space shuttle flights. Known for its impressive safety and reliability, the RS-25 has undergone five major upgrades, incorporating cutting-edge technologies and innovations. It operates on a staged-combustion cycle using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, achieving a thrust of 512,300 pounds in a vacuum at 109% power level. With over 1.1 million seconds of firing time between the shuttle and Space Launch System (SLS) programs, the RS-25 is one of the most advanced engines ever produced in the United States. Future iterations aim for a 30% cost reduction while utilizing advanced manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing, ensuring continued excellence in aerospace propulsion.
L3Harris is a global leader in solar electric propulsion (SEP), specializing in the development, qualification, and flight of advanced electric propulsion systems that support a wide range of civil, defense, and commercial missions. With over 600 electric propulsion thrusters successfully deployed on more than 250 satellites, L3Harris's SEP technology significantly reduces launch mass and costs while enhancing payload capacity and extending satellite mission lifetimes. Notable products include the XR-5 Hall thruster, which powers both commercial and government satellites, and the Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS), designed for NASA’s lunar Gateway. L3Harris is also pioneering next-generation systems like NEXT-C, which was demonstrated during NASA's DART mission, showcasing the company's commitment to enabling future crewed deep space exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.
L3Harris Space Power Systems is at the forefront of providing advanced power solutions for space exploration, including critical systems for the International Space Station and Mars rovers such as Curiosity and Perseverance. Their innovative technologies, including the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) and the Next Generation Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG), are designed to operate in extreme environments, ensuring reliable power for deep space missions. L3Harris is also developing a Fission Surface Power System in collaboration with Westinghouse, aimed at supporting lunar operations under NASA's Artemis program. Additionally, the company supplies electric power systems for Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser spacecraft, enhancing its capabilities for cargo transport to and from the International Space Station. With a commitment to sustainability and reliability, L3Harris is paving the way for future exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
L3Harris Spacecraft Communications specializes in advanced communication systems for space missions, boasting a rich history of over 20 years in this field. Their transceivers have been integral to every U.S. Mars rover and orbiting spacecraft mission, including the Electra-Lite and Electra systems used in the Perseverance lander and its orbiting spacecraft. Additionally, L3Harris supports NASA’s Common Communications for Visiting Vehicles (C2V2) program, which standardizes secure communications between the International Space Station (ISS) and visiting vehicles, ensuring reliable interactions during all phases of rendezvous, docking, and mated operations.
The SpaceSentry Modular TCPED System by L3Harris is a cutting-edge solution designed to enhance space traffic management and safety through a network of persistent optical sensors that collect near-real-time data. This innovative system eliminates the need for active tasking, providing autonomous and continuous updates to the resident space object (RSO) catalog with an approximate data latency of just five minutes. The sensors undergo a rigorous verification and validation process, ensuring high accuracy and reliability, while global coverage minimizes weather interference. SpaceSentry offers a range of data products, including astrometric and photometric observations, orbit estimates, maneuver event detection, conjunction assessments, and long-term behavior patterns of geostationary spacecraft. By adopting a modular TCPED framework, users can leverage native algorithms for rapid innovation in space domain awareness (SDA), facilitating advanced techniques for maneuver detection and operational analysis.
L3Harris SpaceView™ Small Satellite Imaging Solutions offer advanced imaging capabilities tailored for diverse missions, featuring flexible payload configurations that support both visible and infrared spectral ranges. With high-resolution imagery options from 0.24 to 1.1 meters ground sampling distance (GSD), these compact payloads are designed for nanosats, microsats, and smallsats, ensuring affordability and persistent coverage for critical intelligence gathering. The SpaceView line includes multiple models, such as the SV-80 with an 0.8-meter aperture and resolution as fine as 0.22 meters, making it ideal for applications requiring rapid revisit rates and extensive area coverage. By re-engineering high-end optics and structures, L3Harris has created a solution that balances performance and cost-effectiveness, empowering industries to leverage satellite technology like never before.
The UnityCP® Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) by L3Harris is a high-performance, custom-designed crypto engine that is both fixed and programmable. Certified by the NSA for Top Secret and above use, the UnityCP is engineered for embedment in harsh environments, making it ideal for defense applications. Featuring a true multi-processor architecture, it supports multiple simultaneous algorithms at high data rates, ensuring compliance with the DoD Crypto Modernization Initiative. This versatile device accommodates both modern and legacy cryptographic algorithms while maintaining low power consumption in a compact form factor. Additionally, it comes with a certified software library, enabling seamless integration into custom configurations for enhanced operational efficiency.
