US Air Force ‘chameleon’ satellites can be reconfigured in orbit

By David Hambling

An artist’s impression of a Chameleon Constellation satellite

Hypergiant Industries/US Air Force

Next year will see the launch of a satellite that can reconfigure itself in orbit to take on new missions.

Hypergiant Industries of Austin, Texas, is developing a group of these satellites, dubbed the chameleon constellation, under a contract for the US Air Force. Each satellite’s software is designed to be updated in orbit and change how its hardware operates – something that isn’t normally possible.

Most satellites are launched with all the software they need and not updated during their lifetime, says Barry Evans at the …