Northrop Grumman to develop U.S. Space Force spy satellite prototype

Northrop Grumman has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Space Force to develop the GHOST-R, a prototype reconnaissance satellite designed for geosynchronous orbit. The project aims to enhance orbital surveillance capabilities within an accelerated 24-month timeline for production, integration, testing, and delivery.

The satellite will utilize the ESPASat-L spacecraft platform, which features a compact, modular design roughly the size of a small suitcase. This modularity allows for the integration of various payloads to support specialized missions. TRL-11, a company based in Irvine, California, will provide the optical payload required for identifying and analyzing other objects in space.

The GHOST-R program is part of the Defense Innovation Unit’s efforts to utilize commercially derived technologies to reduce costs and deployment times. By using established platforms rather than designing every satellite from scratch, the program seeks to increase situational awareness in the increasingly congested and contested geosynchronous belt, which is critical for military communications and national security.