Created: 2020-08-10
Updated: 2024-02-24
Company - Spaceflight (firefly)
Product/Service - SHERPA
- Classification
- In-Space Transportation
- Category
- Space Tug
In-Space Logistics
- Fields
- In-Space Transportation
Transport Service (In-Space)
Transport Service (LEO-GEO)
- Status
- Cancelled, Acquired, Active, ?
- First launch
- 2021
- The first of these was a Sherpa-FX, which has no propulsion, that made its debut as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-1’s rideshare mission in January 2021
- SpaceX’s Transporter-2 mission then deployed a Sherpa-FX2 and a Sherpa-LTE — Spaceflight’s first OTV with electric propulsion — in June 2022.
- In May 2022, the company debuted Sherpa-AC (attitude control), a version for hosting payloads, on SpaceX’s Transporter 5 mission.
- SpaceX is slated to launch a Spaceflight space tug in mid-2023 when it is set to deploy a Sherpa EScape (Sherpa-ES), which is designed to swing around the moon to deliver payloads in geostationary orbit.
SHERPA-FX: “GO NOW”
Spaceflight’s Sherpa-FX is the first innovative orbital transfer vehicle to debut in the company’s Sherpa-NG program. The vehicle is capable of executing multiple deployments, providing independent and detailed deployment telemetry, and flexible interfaces, all at a low cost.
Details:
- Successful mission onboard SpaceX Transporter-1 (January 2021; SXRS-3), Transporter-2 (June 2021; SXRS-5)
- 24” ESPA-class deployment system
- Multiple deployments: Separates from a launch vehicle prior to deploying any satellites, with satellite separations initiated by onboard avionics once clear of the launch vehicle
- Hosted payload capable
- Quickly configurable; can move from vehicle-to-vehicle and mission-to-mission
- Independent, world-wide telemetry via GlobalStar
- Uses heritage and commercially available components
- Low cost, flexible aggregation
- On orbit life: 4-7 years
SHERPA-AC: “HOST & GO”
- Multiple deployments from known attitudes
- Optimized for hosted payloads
- Power and data connections to hosted payload
- Attitude and thermal knowledge/control with hosted payload
- On orbit life: Over 1 year
SHERPA-LTC: “GO FAST”
- Flying: Second half 2021; SXRS-6
- Addresses orbit raise and lowering, in-plane phasing and exploration missions
- Features chemical propulsion system via a Benchmark Space Systems
- Hosted payload capable
- Impulsive (fast) maneuvering
- Tuned for SpaceX Starlink and other similar missions – effectively and quickly deploy one or multiple satellites to higher orbits after initial drop off
- Industry-leading price
SHERPA-LTE: “GO FAR”
- Successful first flight: June 2021; SXRS-5
- Sherpa-LTE addresses LTAN and plane changes
- High dV orbit raise capability, inclination changes or Earth escape
- High Isp, Xenon propellant electric propulsion from Apollo Fusion enables efficient maneuvering needed for orbital angle changes
- Hosted payload capable
- 3X the performance of other market options, including improved flexibility and operational resilience
SHERPA-ES: "GO BEYOND"
- Flying on Spaceflight’s GEO Pathfinder mission on board Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 South Pole Mission slated for 2023
- Will execute rideshare deployments in trans-lunar orbit, low-lunar orbit and beyond to GEO
- Hosted payload capable
Status Comment / Notes
Sources
Most sources should be linked in the texts and headings as revealed by mouse-over, but here are they listed for visibility.
News, Research, Projects and Patents
| Title | Type | Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orbital Service Providers Respond to Call for ‘Space Tugs’ for Deorbiting | Article | 2022-12-19 | |
| SPACEFLIGHT INC. UNVEILS PROPULSIVE ORBITAL TRANSFER VEHICLES TO LAUNCH SMALLSATS TO CUSTOM ORBITAL DESTINATIONS | News | 2020-11-12 | > New OTVs, slated to launch in 2021, will minimize the impact of extended development timelines and schedule delays while providing increased launch flexibility |
| Spaceflight unveils next-gen orbital transfer vehicle to fly aboard next SpaceX rideshare mission | News | 2020-07-15 | > Spaceflight will be flying its next generation orbital transfer vehicle, Sherpa-FX, on a fully dedicated rideshare mission with SpaceX. |
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