Terran Orbital, a leading provider of satellite solutions for aerospace and defense, has announced the launch schedule for its Pathfinder-R (PTD-R) and Pathfinder-4 (PTD-4) spacecraft. These 6U Triumph-class satellites are set to lift off on August 16 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-11 Rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Both spacecraft are part of NASA’s Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) series, designed to test and validate new technologies in low-Earth orbit.
The PTD missions aim to demonstrate and validate innovative subsystem technologies that could be applied to future scientific and exploratory missions. Terran Orbital’s Triumph spacecraft bus and advanced MK II avionics platform are integral to these missions. Marc Bell, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Terran Orbital, stated, “Entrusted with the entirety of this mission series, we at Terran Orbital stand poised to not only meet but also exceed the expectations set before us, as we forge ahead into the cosmos.”
PTD-4 will test a new solar panel system developed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. This system, known as LISA-T, is both lightweight and capable of unfolding in space to deploy a large solar panel with an integrated antenna. The mission will evaluate the panel’s deployment, power generation, and antenna performance.
Meanwhile, PTD-R will carry Lawrence Livermore National Lab’s Deep Purple payload, which includes two telescopes (one for UV and one for VIS/SWIR imaging), a compact electronics module, and a novel carbon-composite optical housing and radiator. The mission aims to observe UV and SWIR light from high-UV stars and the Milky Way’s galactic bulge, and to advance space domain awareness.
SEOPS provided mission management and integration services for the payloads.
For more information on Terran Orbital’s advanced space vehicle platforms and comprehensive mission support, visit: Terran Orbital Space Vehicle Platforms.
