SabreSat
Deployable Space Systems (DSS) — now Redwire
SabreSat is a highly flexible VLEO (Very Low Earth Orbit) satellite platform designed for persistent, high-resolution imagery or resilient communications, built for performance, endurance, and cost-effectiveness.
Key figurescomparable across the catalogue
- Payload capacity
- 200 kg
- Power
- 5,000 W
- Design life
- 7 years
Normalised to common units so this product can be compared with others in its category. The supplier's own wording is below.
As published by the supplier
- SIZE (STOWED)
- Modular
- PAYLOAD SIZE
- 100 cm x 80 cm x 40 cm
- PAYLOAD MASS
- ~200 kg
- TOTAL SPACECRAFT WEIGHT
- ~400 kg
- POWER AVAILABLE
- Orbit & Configuration dependent, up to 5,000 W OAP (EOL)
- PROPULSION
- Electric or air-breathing (optional)
- ORBITAL ALTITUDE
- > 150 km
- MISSION LIFETIME
- Up to 7 years
- MISSION APPLICATIONS
- ISR, Communications, Navigation, Earth Science
About
SabreSat is a new breed of satellite platform from Redwire, designed for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) missions. It offers high flexibility to support various mission requirements, including persistent, high-resolution imagery and resilient communications. The platform is built in the United States with a focus on performance, endurance, and cost-effectiveness, enabling volume production for large constellations. A key feature is the optional Air-Breathing Technology, which utilizes air-breathing engines to harvest, ionize, and accelerate low-density air as fuel, extending operational life and providing true maneuverability. Redwire also provides digital engineering support, including a suite of tools for exploring mission use-cases through live constellation simulation. SabreSat is being leveraged for DARPA’s Otter program to demonstrate air-breathing electric propulsion technologies and is also being studied with Thales Alenia Space for the European Space Agency’s Skimsat program, which aims to reduce Earth observation costs and increase performance by operating at significantly lower altitudes.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.