KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M., Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to continue development of a micro-satellite that will keep an eye on larger satellites in space.
The ANGELS (Autonomous Nanosatellite Guardian Evaluating Local Space) satellite is a small, autonomous device equipped with a camera that will circle larger satellites, keeping an eye out for problems or malfunctions and also alerting ground controllers to nearby space junk and other potential threats.
ANGELS are not tethered or otherwise connected to the primary satellite and can be maneuvered to different positions depending on what the ground crew wants them to do.
The goal is to allow the Air Force to move its valuable spacecraft away from drifting objects that can cripple a satellite and are far too small to be picked up by ground radar. The devices are likely to be used in the area of space above the equator where a large number of military and commercial satellites are floating around.
"Our experienced team and innovative design work ... will help enable next-generation capabilities for the Air Force to execute space situational awareness missions of interest," predicted Lockheed Vice President Rick Ambrose.
The $8 million contract awarded by the Air force Research Laboratory in New Mexico extends the third phase of the project, which will run through next August and include the Preliminary Design Review through Critical Design Review. A demonstration flight will take place in late 2008 or early 2009, according to Lockheed.
