Cesar Rodriguez

Stories

Manhole-cover satellites and a 5-month head start: Space Force’s DiskSat sprint signals “launch-on-demand” maturity

As of May 2026: Managing DiskSat capability development execution for STP-S30

Rocket Lab just put four "DiskSats" into orbit for the U.S. Space Force—flat, plate-like spacecraft about the size of a manhole cover. The launch showed that the U.S. can move a new satellite design from paperwork to space faster than most people plan a product launch.

Updated May 15