The UK is joining forces with Canada on the Redwing microsatellite mission, designed to enhance Space Domain Awareness (SDA). The mission, set for launch in 2027, will focus on tracking objects in congested orbits with upgraded sensors. Redwing will offer near real-time tasking capabilities to respond to space events as they evolve.
Redwing Mission Overview
The Redwing satellite, which is about the size of a small washing machine, will be directed by Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC). The mission also involves the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), working on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and UK Space Command. Redwing will deploy a smaller nanosatellite called Little Innovator in Space Situational Awareness (LISSA), which will carry an experimental short wave infrared (SWIR) camera developed by Dstl.
Improving Space Surveillance
LISSA, a nanosatellite about the size of a cereal box, will be launched alongside Redwing in a sun-synchronous low Earth orbit, around 575 km above the Earth. The two satellites will operate up to 200 km apart. The SWIR camera, which will be used to monitor objects over the Earth’s South Pole, aims to address challenges like the glare from the Antarctic ice sheet that can make it difficult to identify objects in orbit. This mission will provide valuable insights for future space surveillance.
Collaboration for Security
The partnership between the UK and Canada improves space monitoring and creates technological advancement opportunities. With this mission, the two nations aim to build better infrastructure for space data processing, enhancing mutual security interests.
Magellan Aerospace will design, build, and operate the Redwing and LISSA satellites, while the University of Manitoba will construct LISSA. Bornea Dynamics has been tasked with developing and qualifying the SWIR camera.
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