Lockheed, University Partner for SmallSat Launch Initiative

Lockheed Martin has partnered with the University of Southern California to launch student-made CubeSat small satellites, SpaceNews reported Tuesday.

Students from the university will produce the CubeSats that will undergo integration with a payload built on Lockheed’s SmartSat software-defined architecture. SmartSat allows satellite operators to conduct in-orbit mission shifts.

The joint effort aims to launch four of these satellites to space within the next couple of years. Momentus, a space logistics startup, will perform launch services for the program.