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Paris - basedDarkis need on the dual problem of debris and difference of opinion in orbital cavity with their fluid political program design to establish , attach to , and finally First State - orbit disobliging objects in infinite .
Dark CEO Clyde Laheyne say the ship’s company is aiming to become the “ S.W.A.T. team of space . ”
The three - twelvemonth - old startup is developing Interceptor , a ballistic capsule that is basically a rocket engine - powered packing glove that can be set up on little order to mildly perforate a obstinate object out of its area .
Interceptor is launched from a peculiarly outfitted aircraft . Much like a Virgin Galactic launch , the aircraft will take the rocket above the disruptive lower atm , where it can be free and ignited . Once the rocket reach the neck of the woods of the fair game object , the ballistic capsule come away and use onboard sensor and propulsion to find and approach it . When it ’s line up right , Interceptor pushes against the object with its cushiony “ effector , ” finally de - orb it .
“ All the blank space sphere is organize to do planned , long missions … but orbital defense is more about unwitting , short deputation , ” Laheyne said . In that sense , Interceptor “ is more like an strain denial missile , ” he explained . “ It has to be ready all the time . There is no excuse to not be able to use it . ”
Unlike an actual projectile or anti - satellite weapon system , however , the gentle strike of the Interceptor does n’t produce a debris line of business or any other unsafe , unpredictable gist .
Dark was founded by Laheyne and CTO Guillaume Orvain , engineers who reduce their tooth at multi - national missile developer MBDA . This work experience shines through in the Interceptor conception , which is being design to operate on - call , like to projectile system . That ’s also why Dark is develop its own launching platform : to assure readiness for defense , civic and commercial company at a minute ’s notice , Laheyne tell .
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Dark closed a $ 5 million backing round in 2021 , with the capital tabular array composed of European investors , including lead investor Eurazeo . The team closed a $ 6 million extension yesterday , including participation from its first U.S.-based investor , Long Journey Ventures . ( That fund is led by Arielle Zuckerberg , the younger sister of Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg . )
The company has a heap of work ahead before it come near to remove something like a defunct rocket second stage from eye socket . Dark has been focused on developing decisive system , like the cryogenic engine and software . Now the team is shifting its focal point to developing the technologies postulate for the case of unplanned , ready commission Interceptor will execute , like long - distance detecting and tracking , autonomous flight algorithms , and a system for reliable controlled reentry .
The team must also retrofit an aircraft — which Laheyne guess could cost $ 50 million , or around the cost of build a new launching pad — and have the full platform quick for a presentment mission in 2026 .
That mission would validate many of the essence technologies of the full - scale platform , though it wo n’t really aim to Delaware - orbit an objective , just touch one . Even this is incredibly ambitious : No troupe has yet check so - called rendezvous and propinquity operation , mean move nigh to another target in space and interact with it .
The second presentation military mission , which is currently planed for 2027,willinclude a de - orbit effort . If all goes to architectural plan , the company would part de - orbiting objects for confederative civil agencies . As far as defense customers go , “ hopefully we do n’t have to use it , ” Laheyne allege .
“ I ’ve been doing missiles for long time , and it ’s always the same issue : If you use it first , it ’s an deed of war . If you ’re 2nd , it ’s an act of defense mechanism . If you’re able to do it , and citizenry know you’re able to do it , it ’s dissuasion , ” he say . “ The ideal is dissuasion , the system that makes the struggle unthinkable . ”
