L3Harris Technologies has become a major defense contractor with deep roots in America’s space program. For over sixty years, it’s played a role in propulsion systems, comms equipment, and satellite tech for countless missions.
The company’s journey started with early Mercury missions and now, through its Aerojet Rocketdyne division, it powers some of the most advanced spacecraft out there.
L3Harris Technologies came about in 2019 when L3 Technologies merged with Harris Corporation. That merger created one of the biggest defense contractors in the U.S., focused on aerospace and defense innovation.
They work across space, air, land, sea, and cyber domains. With over 900,000 square feet of production space for space-based systems, L3Harris has really leaned into advanced manufacturing.
Their facilities sit close to major space hubs. Not long ago, they wrapped up a $100 million expansion at Palm Bay, Florida, adding 94,000 square feet for missile defense systems.
That expansion supports the Department of Defense’s Golden Dome initiative.
L3Harris’s defense contractor model lets it serve both government and commercial clients. NASA is a big one, but they also back Space Force and international agencies through different programs.
L3Harris saw the space industry changing and started moving beyond just government contracts. Now, they’re supporting both established programs and newer NewSpace efforts.
With the defense industry shifting toward space domain awareness, new opportunities popped up. L3Harris landed a $90 million contract from Space Force’s Space Systems Command to modernize space surveillance.
This marks a bigger military focus on space as an operational domain.
Commercial space growth nudged L3Harris to develop more flexible systems. Their Universal Space Transponder can handle data transmission between Earth and Mars, which is honestly pretty impressive.
Space tourism and the commercial satellite boom have shaped their products too. Now, they’re building modular, software-defined radios and scalable propulsion systems that adapt to all kinds of missions.
L3Harris has been part of space milestones from the 1960s Mercury program to today’s Artemis missions. They supplied propulsion and electronics for every major NASA human spaceflight program—Gemini, Apollo, Shuttle, and the ISS.
Recently, they played critical roles in the James Webb Space Telescope. L3Harris engineers built components that are now giving us wild new views of distant galaxies.
Through its Aerojet Rocketdyne division, the company delivers RS-25 engines that power NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. These engines evolved from Shuttle Main Engines and now push deep space exploration further.
Right now, they’re supplying 21 propulsion systems for NASA’s Orion spacecraft and developing radar for the Europa Clipper mission. L3Harris is also providing transceivers for the Mars Sample Return campaign—the first attempt to bring Martian samples back to Earth.
L3Harris Technologies supplies essential satellite communication infrastructure and advanced avionics for military and commercial space missions. These technologies really form the backbone of modern space operations across all sectors.
L3Harris builds satellite communication networks that connect spacecraft, ground stations, and mission control centers worldwide. They design transponders, amplifiers, and signal processing equipment for both military and commercial satellites.
Their communication systems support NASA missions and Space Force operations. These systems handle data transmission between Earth and spacecraft headed for the ISS and beyond.
Their satellite terminals give military users secure voice and data links. On the ground, they offer mobile satellite comms units that can go pretty much anywhere.
L3Harris develops cross-links so satellites can talk to each other directly. That adds redundancy and boosts mission reliability.
Their systems use advanced encryption to keep data safe. Multiple frequency bands help keep communication open even if some channels get jammed.
L3Harris Technologies makes flight control computers, navigation systems, and guidance equipment for spacecraft. Their avionics let pilots and automated systems control vehicles during launch, orbit, and landing.
Their flight computers process sensor data and execute commands for maneuvering spacecraft. These systems have to work reliably in space, where radiation and wild temperatures can fry electronics.
Navigation equipment includes GPS receivers built for space and inertial measurement units. These tools help spacecraft figure out exactly where they are and which way they’re facing.
L3Harris avionics support crewed missions to the ISS. Their gear also guides robotic spacecraft to other planets and asteroids.
They design displays and controls that astronauts use to monitor systems. These interfaces need to be intuitive and reliable, especially in high-stakes moments.
L3Harris Technologies leads in space power innovation with radioisotope generators for Mars rovers, nuclear fission systems for lunar work, full electric power solutions for commercial spacecraft, and advanced lithium-ion batteries that upgraded the ISS.
L3Harris builds the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) powering NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on Mars. These devices turn heat from plutonium-238 decay into electrical power.
The MMRTG works in extreme places, from deep space to rough planetary atmospheres. L3Harris developed this with Teledyne Energy Systems for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Current RTG Projects:
The Next Generation RTG offers better safety and solves problems from old systems. These generators keep spacecraft instruments and mechanical systems warm and powered for years.
Since the 1960s, L3Harris has kept the RTG legacy alive. Their expertise lets probes work where solar panels just aren’t an option.
L3Harris teamed up with Westinghouse Government Services to build a 40-kilowatt Fission Surface Power system for the Moon, aiming for a demo before 2030. This little reactor will power about 10 homes worth of electricity—nonstop—for a decade.
The lightweight system will support NASA’s Artemis program, making lunar operations sustainable. Unlike solar arrays, nuclear fission gives steady power no matter the environment.
Key Advantages:
NASA sponsors the project with the Department of Energy and Idaho National Lab. This tech could really change the game for a permanent human presence on the Moon.
Fission power systems break through solar energy limits in deep space. It’s a big step toward longer missions to Mars and beyond.
L3Harris designs full electric power systems for commercial spacecraft, including Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser cargo vehicle. They handle power conversion, distribution units, and battery integration.
Dream Chaser’s power system manages electricity from solar arrays, distributing it to avionics, thermal systems, propulsion, and payloads. Rechargeable batteries extend free-flight time and support ISS cargo runs.
L3Harris offers:
Their electric power systems use a modular design that fits different spacecraft. This flexibility helps them serve a range of commercial space customers.
As commercial missions grow, reliable power management matters more than ever. L3Harris is positioning itself as a key supplier for this expanding industry.
L3Harris shook up ISS power storage by swapping out nickel-hydrogen batteries for advanced lithium-ion battery cores between 2017 and 2020. That upgrade gives 1.5 times more power with half the battery modules.
Performance Improvements:
Their lithium-ion systems include safety monitoring for voltage, temperature, current, charge balancing, and overcharge protection. These batteries last 10 years in space.
L3Harris contributed to the ISS’s full 100-kilowatt electric power system, including solar arrays, thermal control, and power distribution. Their battery innovations support important research on the station.
With missions getting longer and needing more power, advanced battery tech is only going to get more important. L3Harris is working on the next generation of energy storage for space.
L3Harris runs several satellite systems that detect and track hypersonic missiles for the Department of Defense. The company builds specialized tracking satellites and contributes to advanced sensor programs that watch for threats from space.
L3Harris scored a $700 million contract in 2022 to design and build 16 satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 1 program. These satellites spot and track hypersonic missiles aimed at the U.S. or its allies.
The company cleared critical design reviews and production readiness checks in December 2022. Maxar Technologies is providing the satellite bus systems for this constellation.
L3Harris builds tracking satellites at their Melbourne, Florida, and Fort Wayne, Indiana, sites. They’ve already delivered four prototype tracking satellites under a $193 million Tranche 0 contract.
The Tracking Layer Tranche 1 satellites launched in 2025 as part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. This network includes transport satellites that relay data collected by tracking sensor satellites.
“Hypersonic missiles are the most destabilizing kinetic weapons in our adversaries’ arsenals,” said Bob De Cort, L3Harris’s director of program management. These satellites help solve the detection problems caused by the missiles’ dim flight signatures and high maneuverability.
The Space Force picked L3Harris as the third vendor to develop sensor prototypes for medium-Earth orbit missile tracking. They got a $29 million contract from Space Systems Command for Epoch 1 of the Resilient Missile Warning and Missile Tracking program.
L3Harris finished critical design reviews for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer. This is another step toward a layered missile defense system with real-time threat tracking.
Their advanced infrared sensor technology is being integrated into the Space Systems Command’s Missile Track Custody program. These space-based sensors keep an eye on missile threats across different orbital layers.
L3Harris supports networked missile-tracking solutions that include satellite constellations and ground operations equipment for U.S. defense.
L3Harris Technologies works closely with U.S. defense agencies, delivering vital space domain awareness tools. They help support multidomain operations that keep American interests in space protected.
Over decades, L3Harris has built a solid relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense through specialized military space programs. With more than 30 years of experience, they’ve supported all kinds of critical space missions.
The MOSSAIC program stands out as L3Harris’s largest military space contract. It keeps space surveillance systems updated and running at several sites. The U.S. Space Force recently gave L3Harris a $187 million contract option for the fifth year of this initiative.
MOSSAIC supports surveillance centers in Colorado, California, and Virginia. The system spots and tracks deep space objects for military, civil, and commercial users. L3Harris upgrades radar and optical sensors for this program.
The full MOSSAIC contract reaches $1.2 billion over 10 years. It all started with a $23 million award in February 2020. Each new option year has broadened what the program can do.
L3Harris also landed a $90 million contract extension to modernize the ATLAS system. That upgrade improves satellite tracking for the U.S. Space Force.
L3Harris creates integrated defense solutions that cut across different operational domains. Their systems link space-based assets to ground military operations.
People in the defense industry see space domain awareness as crucial. Congress even boosted funding for SDA programs by $111 million in the FY2025 defense budget. That kind of bipartisan support really shows how important these systems have become.
L3Harris delivers offensive space capabilities with programs like Meadowlands. This tech gives the military better jamming abilities and more mobility. The system shields U.S. warfighters using advanced electronic warfare methods.
They also build satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer program. These satellites handle near-global missile warning and tracking. L3Harris has ramped up satellite production to keep up with the military’s growing demand for these vital assets.
L3Harris provides integrated BMC3 solutions, letting warfighters make real-time decisions with automated space-based battle management systems. They offer broad space domain awareness capabilities and enterprise-level integration for the Department of Defense.
L3Harris picked up contracts worth up to $134 million to advance the Department of Defense’s space domain awareness mission. Their systems track and monitor space assets, which is no small feat.
Space Domain Awareness covers plenty of ground. It includes coalition and theater support, battle management command and control, plus indications and warning systems.
The Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System (ATLAS) plays a big role in L3Harris’s space capabilities. The U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command gave them a $90 million contract to keep the ATLAS program going.
This system gives the U.S. and its allies essential command and control in space. It directly backs up joint force requirements across several domains.
L3Harris connects operators with developers using a Development, Security, and Operations approach. This way, they can quickly deploy vital space domain awareness tools.
L3Harris BMC3 solutions help close the warfighting observe-orient-decide-act loop. Their systems keep U.S. forces moving faster than new threats in contested space environments.
Their integrated enterprise solutions support multidomain engagement. These systems process real-time data from sensors, platforms, and warfighter networks all at once.
L3Harris backs the Space Development Agency’s Battle Management Layer development. This layer automates space-based battle management command and control for time-sensitive operations.
Mission processing and dissemination capabilities are at the heart of the BMC3 architecture. These systems help close the kill chain quickly for defense contractors and military operators.
Their solutions tackle traditional BMC3 limitations in fast-changing battlefield scenarios. Modern systems need to process data faster and keep information superiority—there’s just no way around it.
L3Harris Technologies supplies essential power systems for Mars rovers and provides key infrastructure for International Space Station operations. Their work covers propulsion technology, communications, and life support across many space missions.
L3Harris Technologies has delivered power and propulsion tech for every U.S. Mars rover mission. They provide transceivers for NASA’s Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance rovers.
For the Mars Sample Return Mission, four L3Harris transceivers are planned. NASA and the European Space Agency are teaming up to bring Martian samples back to Earth for the first time.
The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover uses L3Harris technology to collect samples on Mars. These samples have to travel 140 million miles over seven months to reach Earth. That’s a huge distance.
L3Harris has built about 22,000 chemical thrusters for in-space propulsion over six decades. The C/TT-510 Electra-lite Transceiver creates flexible data links between spacecraft during Mars missions.
The Universal Space Transponder handles secure data, video, audio, and telemetry transmission between Earth and Mars. It also relays info to other spacecraft out at the Red Planet.
L3Harris Technologies supports the International Space Station through a long partnership with NASA. Their work covers construction, maintenance, and ongoing mission support.
Chemical propulsion systems from L3Harris keep the space station in the right orbit. Their thruster tech gives the massive lab precision maneuvering.
L3Harris supplies communication transceivers that keep the International Space Station in touch with ground control. The C/TT-505 UHF Command/Telemetry Transceiver handles command and telemetry for space systems.
Power systems developed by L3Harris provide steady electricity for station operations. They keep working to make these systems more efficient and environmentally friendly.
L3Harris engineers handle assembly, integration, and testing for space station components. Their expertise stretches from the ISS to the future lunar Gateway station.
L3Harris has built crucial partnerships with government agencies and commercial space companies to move satellite communications and space domain awareness forward. Their collaborations range from Department of Defense contracts to industry alliances that are honestly shaping the future of space-based communications.
L3Harris keeps a strong relationship with NASA through mission support contracts and tech development programs. They handle ground systems integration and satellite communication for various NASA missions.
L3Harris backs NASA’s deep space communications network with advanced ground station tech. Their systems help maintain contact with spacecraft far from Earth.
They also contribute to NASA’s Earth observation missions by developing sensors and data processing tech. These tools help scientists monitor climate change and natural disasters from space.
L3Harris has worked on NASA’s Artemis program too. They supply communications systems that’ll support future lunar missions and astronaut operations on the Moon.
In April 2025, L3Harris teamed up with Amazon’s Kuiper Government Solutions to deliver hybrid satellite communications. This partnership combines L3Harris’s tactical networks with Kuiper’s low-Earth orbit satellite constellation.
Their joint effort targets military, public safety, and commercial applications with improved connectivity. Sam Mehta, President of Communication Systems at L3Harris, pointed out the interoperability benefits for customers who need flexible networks.
L3Harris also works with Airbus U.S. Space & Defense on unmanned systems integration. They provide digital backbone tech for the MQ-72C Logistics Connector helicopter.
The company signed a multi-launch agreement with Firefly Aerospace for three dedicated Alpha vehicle launches in 2026. This partnership supports fast, cost-effective launch options for Department of Defense missions.
L3Harris keeps expanding its partnerships to support Space Force operations and space domain awareness through sensor tech and command systems.
L3Harris delivers launch support systems and propulsion tech that keep space missions on track. They provide critical infrastructure for government and commercial space programs through advanced flight systems and mobility solutions.
L3Harris has supported over 2,100 launches in its 65-year aerospace history. They supply propulsion systems and avionics for national security, civil, and defense missions.
The T-740E S-Band Launch Vehicle Transmitter is a key communication tool during launches. It maintains steady contact between ground control and spacecraft during the crucial launch phase.
L3Harris builds the Autonomous Flight Termination Unit (AFTU) and its smaller version, AFTU-M. These safety systems can automatically end a flight if the launch vehicle strays from its planned course.
Their Rocket Shop Defense Advanced Programs division develops next-gen launch tech. This group creates solutions for responsive launches that support urgent space missions.
L3Harris recently finished a $100 million expansion of its Palm Bay facility. The upgrade supports the Department of Defense’s Golden Dome program and boosts satellite integration capacity.
L3Harris develops advanced propulsion systems that move spacecraft in orbit and beyond. Their Solar Electric Propulsion tech gives satellites efficient, long-lasting thrust.
Electric thrusters from L3Harris will power NASA’s Lunar Gateway station. These systems allow precise orbital adjustments around the Moon while using very little fuel.
Their propulsion tech has a solid history on legendary missions. L3Harris systems powered the Viking missions to Mars and still support today’s deep space exploration.
M-Code Navigation Solutions offer secure positioning for military and civilian spacecraft. These systems resist jamming and spoofing, delivering accurate location data.
L3Harris provides Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services for autonomous spacecraft. These capabilities let satellites navigate on their own, without needing constant ground input.
L3Harris delivers spacecraft control systems and payload interface tech that help mission teams run things precisely. They make it easier to plug in scientific instruments for both commercial and government space programs—pretty cool, honestly.
L3Harris builds avionics systems that run launch vehicles and spacecraft from start to finish. Since 1953, they’ve provided flight control tech for space programs.
Their avionics systems power Atlas V rockets and the newer Vulcan Centaur launchers. These systems handle navigation, guidance, and communication during launches and flight.
The avionics process data in real time, making decisions on the fly. They control engine firing, stage separations, and payload deployments with exact timing.
NASA’s Artemis I mission in November 2022 used L3Harris avionics to guide the Space Launch System rocket on its test flight to the Moon.
Key avionics capabilities include:
L3Harris designs specialized systems that connect payloads to spacecraft and manage their work. Their payload integration facilities in Fort Wayne, Indiana handle everything from building to testing.
They recently delivered their first infrared payload for the Space Development Agency’s missile tracking program. This payload tracks hypersonic missiles and advanced threats in real time from orbit.
The $800 million contract covers 16 satellites with infrared sensors. Each payload has to pass tough testing before joining a spacecraft.
L3Harris payload systems take care of power, data collection, and communication between instruments and ground stations. They create custom interfaces for different payloads and mission needs.
The payload integration process includes environmental testing, vibration checks, and thermal cycling. These steps help make sure payloads survive launch and keep working in space.
L3Harris Technologies has set some pretty ambitious sustainability goals. They’re also developing nuclear power systems that could change space exploration. The company aims for a 60% greenhouse gas reduction by 2030, all while working on fission tech for lunar operations.
L3Harris works on advanced nuclear power systems for future, more sustainable space missions. Their Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) now powers NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on Mars.
These systems use plutonium-238 decay to make electricity. They just keep running, even in harsh space environments, for over a decade.
The Next Generation RTG improves on that tech with better safety. L3Harris is designing it for future deep space missions, like a possible Uranus probe.
NASA’s Dragonfly mission to Titan, Saturn’s moon, will launch in 2027 with an L3Harris-built RTG. That’s a big step forward for nuclear power in space.
They’re also building Lithium-Ion battery systems that replaced older batteries on the International Space Station. These new batteries give 1.5 times more power and use half as many modules.
L3Harris works with Westinghouse Government Services to create the Fission Surface Power System for the Moon. This 40-kilowatt reactor will supply enough power for 10 homes, running for 10 years straight.
The lightweight reactor will get its first test on the Moon before 2030. This tech could make permanent lunar bases possible under NASA’s Artemis program.
Nuclear fission systems don’t care about the weather or sunlight. They work through lunar nights—those last 14 Earth days—when solar panels just can’t cut it.
Mars missions need similar nuclear power. Dust storms can block solar energy for months, so nuclear systems are a must for human settlements there.
L3Harris designs these power systems to be easy to ship and set up on other worlds. They provide steady power for life support, research, and communications.
L3Harris Technologies stands as a major aerospace contractor with broad space capabilities. They work in satellite communications, propulsion, and space exploration for NASA, the Department of Defense, and commercial ventures—across a bunch of global facilities.
L3Harris Technologies builds space systems in four main areas. They focus on communications equipment, propulsion, power solutions, and electronic parts for spacecraft.
Their communications lineup includes software-defined radios, S-band transponders, and UHF transceivers. These let spacecraft, ground stations, and orbital platforms talk to each other. The Universal Space Transponder supports secure communications for Mars missions and satellites around Earth.
Propulsion is another big deal for L3Harris. They make chemical thrusters, electric propulsion, and green alternatives. Over the years, they’ve delivered more than 22,000 chemical thrusters.
Their space power systems keep missions running. L3Harris focuses on making these systems more efficient and powerful while cutting down on environmental impact. They customize power solutions for satellites, space stations, and deep space vehicles.
L3Harris satellite tech boosts national security with advanced space domain awareness. They landed a $90 million contract from U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command to upgrade telescopes for tracking objects and threats in space.
Their satellite solutions provide secure military communications across global networks. These systems enable encrypted data links for the Department of Defense and intelligence missions. L3Harris equipment works with both geostationary and low Earth orbit constellations.
Commercial satellite services also rely on L3Harris communications and propulsion tech. Their systems deliver reliable internet, weather monitoring, and navigation worldwide. The company’s transceivers and power units keep going in tough space conditions for long missions.
Ground control systems work with satellite networks to keep everything running smoothly. L3Harris develops software that manages satellite fleets from different locations at once.
L3Harris delivers space superiority tech through America’s Golden Dome program. They recently finished a $100 million facility expansion in Palm Bay, Florida for this Department of Defense project.
Their space domain awareness systems track objects and threats in Earth’s orbit. Advanced telescopes and sensors monitor satellites, debris, and foreign spacecraft. This helps protect key space infrastructure from collisions and hostile moves.
Electronic warfare systems defend friendly satellites from jamming and cyber attacks. L3Harris builds countermeasures that keep communications and navigation running during conflicts. These tools work across different frequencies and orbits.
When quick action is needed, L3Harris provides rapid response launch solutions. They design affordable launch systems that can send small satellites to specific orbits fast. Military and commercial operators both use this capability.
L3Harris brings advanced imaging tech to major telescope projects. They took part in assembling, integrating, and testing the James Webb Space Telescope, which now delivers stunning images of distant galaxies.
Their work on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope includes assembling the primary mirror and scientific hardware. This telescope will study dark energy, dark matter, and exoplanets. L3Harris built gear for the Wide Field Instrument and Coronagraph.
Europa Clipper’s REASON radar instrument uses L3Harris circuit boards. This tech measures ice thickness on Jupiter’s moon Europa, searching for subsurface oceans. The radar system stands up to Jupiter’s intense radiation.
For Mars, L3Harris provides transceivers that handle rover communications and send back images. They supply four transceivers for the Mars Sample Return campaign, making it possible to send high-res images and samples across 140 million miles.
L3Harris runs space facilities in several U.S. states. Their Space and Navigation headquarters sits in Melbourne, Florida at 1025 W NASA Boulevard—right near Kennedy Space Center.
Palm Bay, Florida is home to their satellite integration and test facility, which just got a $100 million upgrade. This site supports America’s Golden Dome and satellite manufacturing. It features clean rooms for assembling sensitive space gear.
Indiana facilities handle specialized manufacturing for space programs. Officials recently toured the Indiana site that backs America’s Golden Dome efforts. The facility makes parts and subsystems for many space missions.
Other manufacturing and engineering sites support space operations across the company’s network. These locations offer backup and specialized skills for different programs and customer needs.
L3Harris has worked with NASA for over 60 years—yeah, that’s a long time in the space world. They play a big role in the Artemis lunar missions, handling propulsion and electronics tech for the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft.
They also team up with the European Space Agency for the Mars Sample Return campaign. For this joint NASA-ESA mission, L3Harris supplies several transceivers to help bring Martian samples back to Earth.
That kind of collaboration really shows how deep space exploration isn’t just a one-country thing anymore.
On the defense side, L3Harris continues to land contracts with the Department of Defense, like with America’s Golden Dome program. The company secured some pretty hefty sole-source contracts—worth hundreds of millions—for space domain awareness and satellite tech.
Those partnerships pack a punch for national security space capabilities.
In the commercial world, L3Harris supports satellite operators and all sorts of space companies. They deliver components and systems for commercial space ventures, from communication satellites to Earth observation platforms.
It’s interesting to see how they take military-grade tech and tweak it for commercial use.
