What’s Under Development at SFL Missions? Commercial and Operational Satellites

In addition to satellites being developed for novel and proof-of-concept missions, SFL Missions is working on many spacecraft that will become key additions to operational and commercial constellations already in orbit. For commercial deployment, we are developing two new greenhouse gas monitoring microsatellites for GHGSat at our Toronto facility and three radio frequency geolocation Clusters for HawkEye 360 at its plant in Virginia. And we are completing development of Norway’s AISSat-4 satellite that will join an operational ship tracking constellation.

GHGSat – SFL Missions is building GHGSat‑C18 and C19 – reflecting GHGSat’s long‑standing confidence in our microspace engineering. The satellites are being assembled and tested in Toronto, where the SFL Missions’ production line supports concurrent development of dozens of spacecraft.

Built on the proven 15‑kg NEMO platform used for 11 previous GHGSat missions, the new pair will launch together from Vandenberg Space Force Base on a SpaceX Transporter mission. GHGSat continues to rely on SFL Missions’ exceptionally precise attitude control and targeting performance, which enable accurate methane detection and measurement from space. Click here for more details.

HawkEye 360 – SFL Missions has been contracted to deliver spacecraft bus units for HawkEye 360’s next three satellite Clusters, adding nine satellites to the company’s growing RF geolocation constellation. Built under SFL’s Flex Production program, the buses are based on the proven 30‑kg DEFIANT platform and shipped to HawkEye 360’s Herndon, Virginia, facility for final integration and testing.

While Cluster 14 follows recent designs, Clusters 15 and 16 incorporate upgraded antenna and radio systems that enable real‑time, in‑theater data collection and downlinking through steerable beams. These enhancements strengthen HawkEye 360’s global signal‑intelligence capabilities. Read more at this link.

AISSat-4 – The Norwegian Space Agency selectedSFL Missions to develop AISSat‑4, a next‑generation maritime ship‑tracking microsatellite, on an exceptionally fast timeline. Launching in under a year from contract to completion, this rapid turnaround is possible because we are building on more than 15 years of partnership with Norway, having developed every spacecraft in the nation’s AISSat and NorSat maritime monitoring fleet.

Completed and ready for launch, AISSat‑4 will fly on SFL’s proven SPARTAN 6U platform, which uses heritage hardware and software to streamline development while accommodating the advanced AIS receiver built by Kongsberg Seatex.With eight successful ship‑tracking missions already delivered for Norway, we bring deep design heritage and vertically integrated production that keeps schedules firmly under control. AISSat‑4 will expand Norway’s operational capacity, capturing up to 1.5 million AIS signals per day and sustaining the country’s global leadership in space‑based maritime surveillance. Read more here.