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 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.
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 Autonomous Flight Termination Unit - Miniature (AFTU-M) is a cutting-edge solution designed for reliable and efficient flight termination in aerospace applications. Engineered and tested in a single facility, the AFTU-M benefits from the expertise of seasoned professionals with decades of experience in spaceflight design. This compact unit boasts a proven performance history, ensuring trustworthiness for critical missions. With comprehensive support in areas such as radiation analysis, mechanical engineering, and digital signal processing, L3Harris continues to deliver innovative flight termination hardware backed by over 60 years of industry experience. The AFTU-M is your go-to choice for advanced aerospace safety and reliability.
L3Harris Chemical In-Space Propulsion systems provide advanced bipropellant and monopropellant engines designed for a wide range of in-space operations and exploration missions. With over 2,500 bipropellant engines delivered, these systems utilize hydrazine or monomethylhydrazine (MMH) propellants combined with nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) oxidizer to generate thrust levels from 2.5 to 40,000 pounds. Notably, the R-4D engine, originally developed for the Apollo missions, has achieved a remarkable 100 percent success rate across more than 390 apogee-insertion missions for geostationary satellites. Additionally, L3Harris has produced over 19,000 hydrazine-fueled monopropellant engines, which are critical for planetary exploration and are utilized in various spacecraft for precision maneuvering and control. These innovative propulsion solutions are integral to missions involving the Orion and Starliner spacecraft, as well as the International Space Station (ISS), enabling reliable deep-space exploration and efficient in-space operations.
The CST-100 Starliner is an advanced spacecraft designed for crewed missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond, featuring remarkable reusability with the capability to be used up to 10 times. It employs a ground landing system utilizing parachutes and airbags, enhancing safety and efficiency. The Starliner boasts autonomous operation capabilities, minimizing astronaut training requirements for space station missions. Each service module is equipped with 20 L3Harris engines, providing 1,500 pounds of thrust for orbital maneuvers and attitude control during abort scenarios. The crew module utilizes 12 MR-104J thrusters for atmospheric re-entry orientation, while the service module includes 28 Reaction Control System engines for on-orbit maneuvering. Additionally, L3Harris supplies powerful launch abort engines capable of generating 40,000 pounds of thrust to ensure crew safety in case of launch failures. With a comprehensive system of valves, tanks, and ducts, the CST-100 Starliner exemplifies cutting-edge technology in space exploration.
The Hosted Payload Interface Unit (HPIU) by L3Harris is a cutting-edge solution designed to enhance resilient space architectures, ensuring the protection of Department of Defense information in contested environments. This next-generation unit features a comprehensive information assurance trusted separation boundary, providing RED/BLACK isolation and facilitating seamless power and signal flow between U.S. government payloads and commercial or government satellites. With a scalable open-system approach, the HPIU supports technology refreshes, operational flexibility, and asset reconfiguration to meet rapidly evolving mission requirements while enabling cost savings. It accommodates NSA-certified end cryptographic unit solutions for secure telemetry and command data handling, is payload or bus agnostic for independent development, and offers on-orbit reprogrammability. The HPIU is compliant with CNSS Policy No. 12 and implements high-level security controls, making it an ideal choice for modern satellite missions.
L3Harris Launch Vehicle Avionics provides cutting-edge avionic solutions designed to meet the ever-evolving demands of complex space missions. With a legacy dating back to 1953, L3Harris has established itself as a leader in developing high-performance, reliable, and cost-effective avionics that ensure the success of launch vehicles. Their innovative technologies play a critical role in significant missions, including NASA's Artemis program, demonstrating their commitment to advancing space exploration while addressing the toughest challenges faced by their customers in the aerospace industry.
