ESPASat-L
Northrop Grumman satellite planned for the GHOST-R geosynchronous reconnaissance effort, with optical payloads provided by TRL11, according to DefenseScoop.
Development
Program
Geosynchronous High-Resolution Optical Space-Based Tactical Reconnaissance (GHOST-R)
DIU and Space Systems Command prototype effort using commercial space vehicles, buses, and electro-optical payloads for high-resolution space-to-space imagery of resident objects in geosynchronous orbit.
DevelopmentGHOST-R
Awarded
—
Across linked awards
Awards
0
0 recipients
Participants2
Prime
2- Northrop GrummanConfirmed
- True AnomalyConfirmed
Roles as recorded: a prime holds the contract, teammates and subcontractors build under it, competing bidders bid against it, operators field the result.
Products3
News3
Sep 29, 2026NewsDefense Innovation Unit, Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly, U.S. Space ForceDIU, Space Force team up to kick-start buys of commercial sats for monitoring GEO - Breaking DefenseSep 21, 2026NewsDefense Innovation Unit, Northrop Grumman, Space Systems Command, True AnomalyGhostr satellite program contract awards northrop grumman true anomalyDefenseScoopSep 21, 2026NewsDefense Innovation Unit, Northrop Grumman, Space Systems Command, TRL11, True Anomaly, U.S. Department of DefensePentagon taps Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly for recon satellites that can monitor other space systemsDefenseScoop
- Sep 29, 2026NewsDIU, Space Force team up to kick-start buys of commercial sats for monitoring GEO - Breaking Defense
- Sep 21, 2026NewsDefenseScoopGhostr satellite program contract awards northrop grumman true anomaly
- Sep 21, 2026NewsDefenseScoopPentagon taps Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly for recon satellites that can monitor other space systems
Sources2
- 1
DefenseScoop · Sep 21, 2026 · Supports Program · program system:northrop-espasat-l, Program · program system:true-anomaly-jackal, Program · program system:true-anomaly-mosaic
“Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman plans to deliver the company’s ESPASat-L satellite — which the contractor says is the size of a “small suitcase” — and incorporate optical payloads provided by TRL11, a maker of video solutions for space.”
- 2Government recordDIU and Space Systems Command award GHOST-R prototype contracts to support GEO recon capab
Space Systems Command · Sep 18, 2026 · Supports Program, Program · program participant:northrop-grumman, Program · program participant:true-anomaly
“The GHOST-R program, a partnership between the Department of War Innovation Unit (DIU) and Space Systems Command (SSC), leverages commercially developed space vehicles, buses, and electro-optical payloads to deliver high-resolution space-to-space imagery”
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