Product · Space
Project Shadow
Apex-funded demonstration in which an 'Orbital Magazine' satellite deploys two prototype interceptors on orbit; launch slated for June 2026.
by Apex
- Milestones0
- Sources1
- Operators—
- Components—
Apex-funded demonstration in which an 'Orbital Magazine' satellite deploys two prototype interceptors on orbit; launch slated for June 2026.
Timeline
No milestones recorded for Project Shadow yet. The timeline fills in as unveilings, tests, contracts and deliveries are sourced.
Technologies1
Supply chain inputs2
- Solid rocket motors
Subsystem
US supply consolidated from six makers to two between 2000 and 2015 (Aerojet Rocketdyne, now L3Harris, and Orbital ATK, now Northrop Grumman). DoD calls the narrow supplier base a bottleneck and has funded new entrants (Anduril, X-Bow, Ursa Major) and sub-tier suppliers through DPA Title III, while Northrop and L3Harris expand capacity.
CriticalReported - Launch to low Earth orbit
Infrastructure
One provider dominates: SpaceX flew 165 of 325 orbital launches in 2025 (nearly 51%) and launched 85% of satellites (BryceTech). Alternatives are capacity-limited, so small-satellite constellations depend on SpaceX rideshare and manifest availability.
MediumReported
Materials, components and capacity this product depends on. Open an input to see who produces it and the controls on it.
News1
Sources1
- 1.
Apex · Oct 22, 2025 · Supports: System, System · system input:leo-launch, System · system input:solid-rocket-motors
“Flying on one of Apex’s commercial off-the-shelf satellite platforms, Project Shadow is scheduled to launch in June 2026.”
Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.