Mandrake 2 is a technology demonstration mission conducted under DARPA's Blackjack program consisting of two satellites.
The twin Mandrake 2 CubeSat satellites will carry optical inter-satellite links for broadband data. According to DARPA these could form the basis of future optically meshed networks in LEO.
The launch was planned for early 2021 on the SpaceX multi satellite mission "Transporter 1". When the Mandrake 1 and Mandrake 2 satellits were to be mounted on the payload stack, the deployment mechanism was accidently activated, which led to damage to both payloads. Likely the satellites will fly on a later launch.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Technology |
| Operator: | DARPA |
| Contractors: | DARPA |
| Equipment: | optical inter-satellite link payload |
| Configuration: | CubeSat (?U) |
| Propulsion: | |
| Power: | Solar cells, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | |
| Orbit: |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandrake 2A | - | 2021 | with ?, Mandrake 1, Mandrake 2B | |||
| Mandrake 2B | - | 2021 | with ?, Mandrake 1, Mandrake 2A |
