Concept for a hybrid constellation of Earth observation satellites combing synoptic coverage with high-resolution follow-up Photo: Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital has formed a new business division, the Optical Solutions Group (OSG) focused on electro-optical (EO) satellite imaging products.

The new group has been tasked with developing new space-based imaging solutions for Earth observation and space domain awareness. These solutions will use Terran Orbital satellite bus platforms with boresight and broadband communications capabilities and internal and partner optical solutions. The company said these products will be designed to automate routine and complex tasking.

This comes after Terran Orbital recently decided not to pursue its own constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites called PredaSAR and in favor of manufacturing such satellites for commercial and government customers. 

The company tapped Alex Pertica, who has had a 36-year career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to lead the group. Pertica most recently served as LLNL’s deputy leader of the Space Science and Security Program managing a $50 million portfolio. 

“Our new Optical Solutions Group will develop revolutionary optical satellites that fortify and cultivate cutting-edge, lifesaving defense solutions,” said Terran Orbital Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO Marc Bell. “Our Terran Orbital family will create a better, safer world for our extended global family one optically enhanced satellite at a time.”