Space & Satellites
Lockheed Martin’s Orion Test Lab Ensures Artemis Mission Readiness
Lockheed Martin’s Orion Integrated Test Lab uses hardware-in-the-loop testing to prepare astronauts and validate systems for the Artemis lunar missions.
This article is based on an official press release from Lockheed Martin.
As the aerospace industry prepares for the next generation of lunar exploration, the margin for error remains non-existent. At the heart of these preparations lies the Orion Integrated Test Lab (ITL), a critical facility located at Lockheed Martin’s Waterton campus near Denver, Colorado. According to an official release from Lockheed Martin dated December 18, 2025, this lab serves as the primary proving ground for the Orion spacecraft, utilizing advanced simulations to bridge the gap between digital code and physical reality.
The ITL operates on a core philosophy: “test like you fly.” By integrating real flight avionics, software, and controls with sophisticated digital environments, engineers can expose the spacecraft’s systems to the exact conditions of a deep space mission without leaving Earth. This capability is currently playing a pivotal role in finalizing readiness for the crewed Artemis II mission and the subsequent lunar landing profile of Artemis III.
In this report, AirPro News examines the technical capabilities of the ITL, its role in astronaut training, and why hardware-in-the-loop testing remains indispensable for human spaceflight safety.
The ITL is described by Lockheed Martin as a “one-to-one scale test bed” of the Orion spacecraft. Unlike standard flight simulators that may rely entirely on software, the ITL connects real flight computers, wiring harnesses, and sensors to the simulation loop. This ensures that electrical signals, timing, and data transfers occur exactly as they would on the actual vehicle during launch, orbit, or re-entry.
According to the company, this facility is the only one capable of integrating hardware and software across all Orion program elements, including the Command Module, Service Module, and Launch Abort System, into a single closed loop. This integration allows engineers to verify that the software code interacts correctly with the physical chips and processors it will fly on, revealing potential bugs that standard computer simulations might miss.
“The Integrated Test Lab is where the software meets the hardware before it goes on the flight vehicle. We test everything here first so that when it’s time to fly, there are no surprises.”
, Anna Jonsen, ITL Operation Team, Lockheed Martin
The ITL utilizes a high-fidelity, hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) environment. This setup allows the lab to link directly to NASA’s Mission Control Center (MCC) in Houston, enabling flight controllers to command the “virtual” spacecraft in Denver in real-time. These rehearsals cover critical mission phases such as Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) and splashdown, ensuring that communication protocols between the ground and the vehicle are flawless. One of the lab’s most critical functions is fault injection. Engineers can intentionally trigger thousands of failure scenarios, ranging from battery failures and stuck switches to computer crashes. This stress-testing verifies that Orion’s backup systems and redundancy measures activate correctly to keep astronauts safe. Additionally, the lab employs “faster-than-real-time” simulations for automated testing, allowing teams to run thousands of Monte Carlo scenarios to predict performance across millions of potential variables.
As of late 2025, the ITL has been conducting “end-to-end” mission simulations for Artemis II, the first crewed lunar flyby. These simulations include long-duration runs where systems remain active for days to ensure stability. The Artemis II crew, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, have utilized the ITL to familiarize themselves with the cockpit interface.
The lab features high-definition display screens in place of windows, rendering accurate star fields, the Moon, and Earth based on the spacecraft’s simulated position. This visual realism provides astronauts with accurate cues during complex maneuvers.
“We get to operate the real flight software and hardware, and we learn how the team reacts when the pressure’s on. It’s real experience, just without the launch.”
, Reid Wiseman, NASA Astronaut & Artemis II Commander
While preparations for Artemis II are in their final stages, engineers are already reconfiguring parts of the lab for Artemis III. This involves testing new rendezvous and docking software required to link Orion with the Starship Human Landing System (HLS) in lunar orbit.
The Indispensability of Physical Testing
In an era where “digital twins” and purely virtual models are becoming industry standards, the Orion ITL highlights a crucial reality of aerospace engineering: software cannot fully predict hardware behavior. The ability to test specific electrical signals as they travel through physical wires allows Lockheed Martin to identify anomalies that a digital twin might overlook. As NASA approaches the launch of Artemis II, the ITL acts as the final gatekeeper. Any glitch found here is a problem solved on the ground rather than a crisis in deep space. This facility underscores that while digital tools accelerate development, physical hardware-in-the-loop testing remains the gold standard for crew safety.
Where is the Orion Integrated Test Lab located? What is the difference between the ITL and a standard simulator? How does the ITL support the Artemis missions?
Inside the Orion Integrated Test Lab: How Lockheed Martin Ensures Astronaut Safety
The “Test Like You Fly” Philosophy
Bridging the Gap Between Code and Hardware
Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) Capabilities
Fault Injection and Safety Protocols
Artemis Readiness and Astronaut Training
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
The ITL is located at Lockheed Martin’s Waterton campus near Denver, Colorado.
Standard simulators often use only software to mimic flight. The ITL uses Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) technology, connecting real flight computers and avionics to the simulation to ensure the physical hardware reacts exactly as it would during a mission.
The lab runs end-to-end mission simulations, tests fault scenarios, and allows astronauts to train with the actual flight software and cockpit interfaces they will use in space.
Sources
Photo Credit: Lockheed Martin
Space & Satellites
Starfighters Space Closes $40M Reg A+ IPO, Starts Trading on NYSE
Starfighters Space closed a $40 million Reg A+ IPO and begins trading on NYSE American as it expands its supersonic aircraft fleet and StarLaunch system.
This article is based on an official press release from Starfighters Space.
Starfighters Space, Inc., a commercial space company known for operating a fleet of supersonic F-104 Starfighter Military-Aircraft, has officially closed its Regulation A+ Initial Public Offering (IPO). According to the company’s announcement, the offering generated approximately $40 million in gross proceeds. Following the close, the company’s common stock is scheduled to commence trading on the NYSE American exchange today, December 18, 2025, under the ticker symbol FJET.
The capital raise marks a significant transition for the Florida-based company, which operates out of the Kennedy Space Center. Starfighters Space intends to utilize the funds to scale its operations, specifically focusing on the development of its “StarLaunch” air-launch system and the expansion of its aircraft fleet. The company aims to leverage these assets to serve both defense and commercial markets through hypersonic testing and satellite launch services.
The Regulation A+ offering, often referred to as a “Mini-IPO,” allowed Starfighters Space to raise capital from both accredited and retail investors. According to the offering details released by the company, approximately 11.1 million shares were sold at an offering price of $3.59 per share. The offering was hosted on the investment platform Equifund.com, with Digital Offering, LLC acting as the lead selling agent.
In a statement regarding the milestone, Starfighters Space leadership emphasized the strategic importance of the public listing.
“The completion of Starfighter’s successful IPO and related fund raise positions us to unlock significant opportunities ahead as we enter the next stage of our growth… We expect to use the funds… to further drive our research and development efforts, including the development of our STARLAUNCH programs.”
— Rick Svetkoff, Founder and CEO of Starfighters Space
Starfighters Space currently operates the world’s only commercial fleet of flight-ready Lockheed F-104 Starfighters. These Cold War-era interceptors are capable of sustaining speeds above Mach 2, making them valuable assets for testing scramjets, sensors, and thermal protection systems for defense contractors and partners like GE Aerospace.
However, the newly raised capital is earmarked for significant fleet expansion. According to the company’s roadmap, Starfighters Space is in the process of acquiring 12 McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II aircraft. These heavier fighters are intended to support the “StarLaunch II” program, providing the payload capacity necessary to carry larger rockets and more complex hypersonic test vehicles than the F-104 can accommodate. The company’s business model relies on two primary pillars: hypersonic research and commercial air-launch. The “StarLaunch” system utilizes the aircraft as a reusable first-stage booster. By carrying a rocket to an altitude of approximately 45,000 feet before release, the company aims to launch small satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with higher frequency and location flexibility than traditional vertical launch pads.
The successful closing of a $40 million Regulation A+ IPO is a notable achievement in a capital-intensive sector that has seen high-profile struggles recently. The air-launch market has faced skepticism following the collapse of Virgin Orbit in 2023. However, Starfighters Space differentiates itself through its choice of platform. Unlike Virgin Orbit, which utilized a modified Boeing 747, Starfighters employs tactical supersonic jets.
This approach offers distinct advantages for the hypersonic testing market, a sector currently experiencing high demand from the U.S. Department of Defense due to a shortage of high-speed test platforms. While the commercial satellite launch market remains crowded with competitors like SpaceX, the ability of Starfighters to offer supersonic testbeds for scramjet development provides a diversified revenue stream that pure-play launch providers lack. The acquisition of F-4 Phantoms will be a critical execution test for the company as it moves from a niche operator to a publicly traded aerospace firm.
Sources: Starfighters Space Press Release
Starfighters Space Closes $40 Million Reg A+ IPO, Begins Trading on NYSE American
Offering Details and Market Debut
Strategic Expansion: From F-104s to F-4 Phantoms
The StarLaunch Concept
AirPro News Analysis
Sources
Photo Credit: Starfighters Space
Space & Satellites
Lockheed Martin Awarded $1.1B Contract for SDA Tranche 3 Satellites
Lockheed Martin secured a $1.1B contract to build 18 Tranche 3 satellites for the Space Development Agency’s missile tracking and defense network.
This article is based on an official press release from Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has been awarded a major contract with a potential value of approximately $1.1 billion by the Space-Agencies (SDA). Announced on December 19, 2025, the agreement tasks the aerospace giant with producing 18 space vehicles for the Tranche 3 Tracking Layer (TRKT3) constellation. These satellites are a critical component of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a network designed to detect, track, and target advanced missile threats, including hypersonic systems.
This award represents a significant portion of a broader $3.5 billion investment by the SDA, which simultaneously issued Contracts to Rocket Lab, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris. Together, these companies will construct a combined total of 72 satellites. According to the announcement, Lockheed Martin’s specific allotment of satellites is scheduled for launch in Fiscal Year 2029.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lockheed Martin will deliver 18 missile warning, tracking, and defense space vehicles. Unlike traditional legacy programs that often take a decade to field, the SDA operates on a rapid “spiral development” model, fielding new generations, or “tranches”, every two years. Tranche 3 is particularly significant as it represents the “Sustained Capability” generation, designed to replenish and replace earlier satellites while introducing advanced fire-control capabilities.
The satellites will be manufactured at Lockheed Martin’s SmallSat Processing & Delivery Center in Colorado. The company confirmed that Terran Orbital will continue to serve as a key supplier, providing the satellite buses. This continuation of the supply chain partnership aims to maintain production stability across the various tranches.
A defining feature of the Tranche 3 Tracking Layer is the inclusion of “fire-control quality” tracking. While previous iterations focused primarily on warning and tracking, half of the payloads in this new constellation are designated for missile defense. This means the satellites can generate data precise enough to guide an interceptor to destroy a threat, rather than simply monitoring its trajectory.
“The Tracking Layer of Tranche 3… will significantly increase the coverage and accuracy needed to close kill chains against advanced adversary threats. The constellation will include a mix of missile warning and missile tracking, with half the constellation’s payloads supporting advanced missile defense missions.”
Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo, Acting Director, Space Development Agency
With this latest award, Lockheed Martin’s total backlog with the SDA has grown to 124 space vehicles across multiple tranches. This reinforces the company’s position as a dominant player in the rapid-acquisition space sector. The SDA’s strategy involves splitting awards among multiple vendors to foster competition and reduce industrial base risk. The $3.5 billion total funding for Tranche 3 was distributed as follows:
Lockheed Martin and Rocket Lab received higher contract values, which industry analysts attribute to the complexity of the defense-specific payloads included in their respective lots.
“Lockheed Martin’s ongoing investments and evolving practices demonstrate our commitment to supporting the SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. These innovative approaches position Lockheed Martin to meet the warfighter’s urgent need for a proliferated missile defense constellation.”
Joe Rickers, Vice President of Transport, Tracking and Warning, Lockheed Martin
The awarding of the Tranche 3 contracts highlights a pivotal shift in U.S. defense strategy toward “proliferated” architectures. By deploying hundreds of smaller, cheaper satellites rather than a handful of large, expensive targets (“Big Juicy Targets”), the U.S. Space Force aims to increase resilience against anti-satellite weapons. If an adversary destroys one node in a mesh network of hundreds, the system remains operational.
Furthermore, the explicit mention of “fire-control quality tracks” signals that the PWSA is moving from a passive observation role to an active engagement support role. This is a direct response to the development of hypersonic glide vehicles by peer adversaries, which fly too low for traditional ground-based Radar-Systems to track effectively. The reliance on Terran Orbital for satellite buses also underscores the critical nature of supply chain continuity; as production rates increase to meet the two-year launch cycles, prime contractors are prioritizing established supplier relationships to minimize delay risks.
Lockheed Martin Secures $1.1 Billion Contract for SDA Tranche 3 Tracking Layer
Contract Specifications and Deliverables
Advanced Fire-Control Capabilities
Strategic Context and Industry Landscape
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
Photo Credit: Lockheed Martin
Space & Satellites
Venturi Space Completes Driving Tests for MONA-LUNA Lunar Rover
Venturi Space successfully tests MONA-LUNA lunar rover at ESA’s LUNA facility, validating key mobility and wheel tech for a 2030 Moon mission.
This article is based on an official press release from Venturi Space.
Venturi Space has announced the successful completion of the first driving tests for its MONA-LUNA lunar rover. Conducted at the European Space Agency’s (ESA) newly inaugurated LUNA analog facility in Cologne, Germany, these tests mark a pivotal step in Europe’s roadmap toward autonomous lunar exploration. The rover, designed to be “100% European,” demonstrated its capability to navigate loose regolith and steep inclines, validating key technologies intended for a targeted 2030 mission to the Moon’s South Pole.
According to the company’s announcement, the tests focused on mobility, obstacle traversal, and the durability of onboard electronic systems under simulated lunar conditions. The successful campaign confirms the viability of Venturi’s proprietary wheel technology and sets the stage for further development leading up to integration with the European Argonaut lander.
The testing campaign took place at the LUNA facility, a joint operation by ESA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) that opened in September 2024. The facility features a 700-square-meter hall filled with 900 tonnes of regolith simulant, volcanic powder derived from the Eifel region, designed to mimic the surface of the Moon. The environment also replicates the unique lighting conditions of the lunar South Pole, providing a high-fidelity testing ground for robotic systems.
Venturi Space reports that the MONA-LUNA rover exceeded initial performance targets during these Test-Flights. Specifically, the vehicle successfully climbed slopes of up to 33 degrees and navigated large rocky obstacles without losing traction. A primary objective was to verify that the rover would not sink into the loose soil, a common hazard in lunar exploration.
A critical component validated during these tests was the rover’s “hyper-deformable” wheel technology. Invented by Venturi, these wheels are designed to absorb shocks and maximize the contact patch with the ground, providing necessary grip on soft, unstable surfaces. Dr. Antonio Delfino, Director of Space Affairs at Venturi Space, emphasized the importance of this validation.
“The main objective… was to validate the rover’s mobility in conditions representative of a lunar surface, with a particular focus on the interaction between its hyper-deformable wheels and a highly realistic regolith simulant.”
Dr. Antonio Delfino, Venturi Space
The MONA-LUNA is engineered to serve as a logistics and exploration vehicle capable of surviving the harsh lunar environment. According to technical details released by Venturi Space, the rover weighs approximately 750 kg, with the capacity to extend to 1,000 kg depending on specific mission payloads. It is capable of speeds up to 20 km/h (approximately 12.4 mph). The vehicle is electrically powered, utilizing solar panels and three high-performance batteries. Crucially, the rover is built to endure the extreme thermal variations of the lunar cycle, with a stated operating range of -240°C to +110°C. It is equipped with a robotic arm for scientific tasks and is designed to carry cargo or, in emergency scenarios, an astronaut.
The development of MONA-LUNA represents a strategic shift toward European independence in space logistics. Currently, much of the global lunar infrastructure relies on non-European Partnerships. By developing a sovereign rover capable of launching on an Ariane 6 rocket and landing via the European Argonaut lander (developed by Thales Alenia Space), Europe is securing its own access to the lunar surface.
This autonomy is further supported by Venturi’s industrial expansion. The company plans to open a new 10,000-square-meter facility in Toulouse, France, by 2028. This factory will employ approximately 150 engineers dedicated to the Manufacturing of the MONA-LUNA, signaling a long-term industrial commitment beyond the initial prototype phase.
While the MONA-LUNA is targeted for a 2030 launch, Venturi Space has outlined an incremental approach to technology validation. Before the full-sized rover reaches the Moon, a smaller “sister” rover named FLIP (FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform) is scheduled to launch in 2026.
Developed in partnership with the U.S. company Venturi Astrolab, FLIP will fly on a commercial mission with Astrobotic. This earlier mission will serve as a “pathfinder,” testing the same batteries and wheel technologies in the actual lunar environment four years before the MONA-LUNA mission. Gildo Pastor, President of Venturi Space, expressed confidence in the current progress following the Cologne tests.
“Seeing MONA LUNA operate on the legendary LUNA site is a profound source of pride… We know we have only completed 1% of the journey that, I hope, will take us to the Moon.”
Gildo Pastor, President of Venturi Space
The successful completion of these driving tests at the LUNA facility confirms that the foundational mobility technologies required for Europe’s 2030 lunar ambitions are now operational in a relevant environment.
Venturi Space Successfully Tests “MONA-LUNA” Rover at ESA’s New Lunar Facility
Validating Mobility in a Simulated Lunar Environment
Performance of Hyper-Deformable Wheels
Technical Specifications and Mission Profile
AirPro News Analysis: The Push for European Autonomy
Future Roadmap: From FLIP to MONA-LUNA
Sources
Photo Credit: Venturi Space
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