en.Wedoany.com Reported - Space access service provider SEOPS announced the Waymaker program, a dedicated rideshare mission targeting low Earth orbit (LEO), during the SmallSat Europe conference in Amsterdam. The program aims to provide predictable LEO rideshare capacity for payloads through standardized capacity shares, clear interfaces, and a managed mission process. SEOPS has signed a contract with SpaceX to launch the first mission, Waymaker-1, using a Falcon 9 rocket in 2028.
The Waymaker program responds to the growing market demand for reliable rideshare capacity, particularly for time-sensitive or non-standard payloads. It offers a managed solution designed to provide consistent and cost-effective orbital access. Waymaker also complements SEOPS' previously announced Darkstar geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) rideshare program, unveiled in 2024, which provides a managed path to deep space and custom orbits, such as higher inclinations or cislunar space. The Darkstar-1 mission is also scheduled for launch in 2028, using a Falcon 9 rocket.
"Waymaker missions act as a pressure relief valve for the growing LEO rideshare market," said Chad Brinkley, CEO of SEOPS. "Waymaker and Darkstar rideshare missions offer customers more opportunities and certainty, ensuring their spacecraft can launch when they want, while SEOPS focuses on ensuring their mission success." Evan Hoyt, Executive Vice President of SEOPS, added that the company is committed to managing launch access as a scalable program, not just a one-off transaction, with programs like Waymaker and Darkstar designed to meet the rapidly increasing demand for rideshare capacity.
Key features of the Waymaker rideshare program include: confirmed LEO capacity, reducing scheduling and financing risks through defined launch windows; a familiar rideshare model offering standardized capacity shares (including Cake Topper, Quarter, Half, Full, and XL ports) with clear interfaces, decision points, and deliverables; engineering flexibility, with custom ESPA ring stacking provided by Maverick Space Systems supporting multiple payload configurations and offering greater flexibility in volume and interfaces; the ability to support larger or unique payloads beyond typical rideshare constraints; and a two-month in-orbit flight safety service provided by Digantara, including satellite identification, custody, and collision avoidance.
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