Spaceflight’s Sherpa-FX is the first innovative orbital transfer vehicle to debut in the company’s Sherpa-NG program. The vehicle is capable of executing multiple deployments, providing independent and detailed deployment telemetry, and flexible interfaces, all at a low cost.

Details:

• Successful mission onboard SpaceX Transporter-1 (January 2021; SXRS-3), Transporter-2 (June 2021; SXRS-5)
• 24” ESPA-class deployment system
• Multiple deployments: Separates from a launch vehicle prior to deploying any satellites, with satellite separations initiated by onboard avionics once clear of the launch vehicle
• Hosted payload capable
• Quickly configurable; can move from vehicle-to-vehicle and mission-to-mission
• Independent, world-wide telemetry via GlobalStar
• Uses heritage and commercially available components
• Low cost, flexible aggregation
• On orbit life: 4-7 years

Spaceflight’s Sherpa-AC augments our base Sherpa model (the free flying Sherpa-FX) with key capabilities including a flight computer, attitude knowledge & control making it ideal for servicing hosted payloads.

Details:

• Multiple deployments from known attitudes
• Optimized for hosted payloads
• Power and data connections to hosted payload
• Attitude and thermal knowledge/control with hosted payload
• On orbit life: Over 1 year

Designed with launch vehicle flexibility as a requirement, the Sherpa-LTC features a high thrust, bi-propellant, green propulsion subsystem integrated seamlessly within the available space of the original free flyer. By including this new propulsion technology from Benchmark Space Systems, Sherpa-LTC provides a low cost, rapid orbital transfer for many sizes of small spacecraft. It’s compatible with all launch vehicles Spaceflight currently works with.

Details:

• Flying: Second half 2021; SXRS-6
• Addresses orbit raise and lowering, in-plane phasing and exploration missions
• Features chemical propulsion system via a Benchmark Space Systems
• Hosted payload capable
• Impulsive (fast) maneuvering
• Tuned for SpaceX Starlink and other similar missions – effectively and quickly deploy one or multiple satellites to higher orbits after initial drop off
• Industry-leading price

This Electric Propulsion OTV builds on the initial Sherpa program by incorporating a high specific impulse (Isp), Xenon propellant. It incorporates ACE (Apollo Constellation Engine), a low thrust, high efficiency, radiation hardened Hall thruster propulsion system developed by Apollo Fusion, Inc. As ACE systems are able to generate over 6 km/s of delta-V, Sherpa-LTE has the capability to deliver spacecraft to GEO, Cislunar, or Earth-escape orbits. The Sherpa-LTE provides a low-cost alternative to purchasing full direct-inject launch vehicles and extends the ability of small launch vehicles that are currently under development to reach beyond low Earth orbit.

Details:

• Successful first flight: June 2021; SXRS-5
• Sherpa-LTE addresses LTAN and plane changes
• High dV orbit raise capability, inclination changes or Earth escape
• High Isp, Xenon propellant electric propulsion from Apollo Fusion enables efficient maneuvering needed for orbital angle changes
• Hosted payload capable
• 3X the performance of other market options, including improved flexibility and operational resilience

Spaceflight’s newest propulsive OTV, Sherpa-ES, which is the higher energy variant of the Sherpa-NG product line. Sherpa-ES is a bipropellant, high delta-V OTV that will enable small satellite delivery anywhere in cislunar space, including injection to trans- and low-Lunar orbits and GEO. It leverages the same modular structure of the Sherpa-NG family for increased flexibility and rapid time to flight. Specifically tuned for GTO missions, it features high dV orbit raise and inclination change capabilities and can serve as a hosted payload platform.

Details:

• Flying on Spaceflight’s GEO Pathfinder mission on board Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 South Pole Mission slated for 2023
• Will execute rideshare deployments in trans-lunar orbit, low-lunar orbit and beyond to GEO
• Hosted payload capable