CNCE Block 2

CNCE Block 2
Name CNCE Block 2
Type CubeSat
Units or mass 3U
Organisation Missile Defense Agency
Institution Military
Entity Government (Civil / Military)
Nation US
Manufacturer AIVT by Blue Canyon
Operator Blue Canyon
Costs
Single platform: $1.3 million
Oneliner

The cubesats will mimic two suborbital missile interceptor vehicles and test communications between them.

Description

The CNCE Block 2 is part of MDA’s Nanosat Testbed Initiative (NTI) and supports the development of MDA’s Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) and other MDA and DOD space efforts. It uses small, low-cost satellites to demonstrate networked radio communications between nanosatellites while in orbit.

Transmitting data between interceptors, sensors and communication systems is critical to a missile defense architecture that must quickly identify, track and destroy incoming enemy missiles before they reach their targets.

CNCE Block 2 will also test a new type of software-defined radio as well as demonstrate technology that supports space-based High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryption (HAIPE). The mission will last 90 days with provisions for a one-year extension.

For HACSSAT 1,2, Blue Canyon provided Space Dynamic Lanoratories with bus electronics for 2 3U Cubesats, integrated the payloads, and completed environmental testing on both spacecrafts.

Mobile CubeSat Command and Control, or MC3, ground station network, Space Dynamics laboratory (Mission Integrator), Space Micro Inc. (Payload) and Blue Canyon Technologies (Spacecraft Bus).

Sources [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Photo sources [1] [2] [3]
COTS subsystems
  • PLATFORM - Blue Canyon
Subsystems sources [1]

Related Spacecraft

Name Status Launch Orbit
CNCE V4 (CNCE4, Cubesat Networked Communications Experiment, CNCE Block 2, HACSSAT-1) Operational (Press release on 2022-05-31) 2022-05-25 530 km, 97.5 deg, SSO
CNCE V5 (CNCE5, Cubesat Networked Communications Experiment, CNCE Block 2, HACSSAT-2) Operational (Press release on 2022-05-31) 2022-05-25 530 km, 97.5 deg, SSO

Last modified: 2023-06-09
Detailed CNCE Block 2 entry in the Database
Full Nanosats Database (much more data)

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Created by Erik Kulu

Email: erik.kulu@nanosats.eu
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