Elytra

Overview

Family of orbital transfer and on-orbit service vehicles (Dawn, Dusk, Dark) providing in-space maneuvering, payload delivery and hosting, communications relay, and space domain awareness from LEO through cislunar space. Elytra Dark also carries Firefly's Ocula lunar imaging service.

First flight vehicle is Elytra Dark on Blue Ghost Mission 2, which delivers the lander and ESA's Lunar Pathfinder to lunar orbit before staying on station for communications and Ocula imaging. That mission is now targeted no earlier than 2027. A separate Elytra mission for the Defense Innovation Unit's Sinequone Project is also set to launch no earlier than 2027.

Key Specs

Payload Capacity

Up to 300 kg (Dawn), 500 kg (Dusk), 3,300 kg (Dark)

Delta-V

>1,550 m/s (Dawn, 50 kg) to >3,250 m/s (Dusk)

Operating Range

LEO, MEO, GEO, cislunar and beyond

Defense Missions

1 booked (DIU Sinequone Project, NET 2027)