THE NEW SPACE RACE: Space Force missile-tracking “Foo Fighter” satellites clear design milestone.

Eight satellites designed by Millennium Space Systems with sensor payloads from L3Harris Technologies have cleared a key design review, paving the way for production and a planned late 2027 launch, the companies announced April 7.

Millennium Space, based in El Segundo, California, is building the satellites under a $414 million contract awarded last year by the Space Development Agency for a constellation known as “Foo Fighter” — short for Fire-control On Orbit-support to the Warfighter.

The satellites will form part of the SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, an extensive constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites designed to provide continuous tracking, targeting and communications support for U.S. military operations.

Dave Grohl could not be reached for comment.