ATHENE-1 Satellite Launches on Falcon 9 for 22 Orbital Experiments
Vandenberg Space Force Base, California – October 28, 2026 -- The ATHENE-1 technology demonstrator, a small satellite of nearly 300 kilograms, has launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 and reached low Earth orbit as planned, starting the operational phase of a mission that will host 22 scientific experiments. LuxSpace, a subsidiary of OHB, built the satellite with the Bundeswehr University Munich. It flew on the Transporter-18 mission.
ATHENE-1 will test jamming defense and on-board AI processing
The experiments cover satellite communications and networking, reconnaissance and sensing, navigation, and AI-supported data processing directly in orbit. The satellite will trial methods to detect, locate and counter interference, with the aim of making satellite navigation and communication systems more resilient. It will also test intelligent signal and data processing and future applications for government and military users.