During the SmallSat Europe conference in Amsterdam, space access provider SEOPS announced the launch of its Waymaker program. The initiative is designed to offer dedicated rideshare missions to low Earth orbit, providing a managed solution for both commercial and United States government customers.
Expanding Low Earth Orbit Access
To kick off the program, the company has secured a contract with SpaceX for a Falcon 9 mission, with the inaugural flight scheduled for 2028.
The program aims to address the escalating demand for reliable rideshare capacity, particularly for time-sensitive or non-standard payloads that often face scheduling challenges in the current market.
The Waymaker Model
The new program provides a managed pathway designed to deliver consistent and cost-effective access to orbit. It features standardized capacity portions, such as cake topper, quarter, half, full, and extra-large ports, complete with defined interfaces, deliverables, and decision points.
Engineering flexibility is a core component of the initiative. Utilizing a custom stack developed by Maverick Space Systems, the architecture supports varied payload configurations and accommodates larger or unique payloads that typically fall outside standard rideshare constraints.
Additionally, the program includes in-orbit safety of flight services provided by Digantara, offering satellite identification, custody, and collision avoidance for two months post-launch. Firm launch windows are established upfront to mitigate scheduling and financing risks for payload operators.
Complementing Deep Space Ambitions
The introduction of Waymaker serves as a low Earth orbit counterpart to the company’s existing Darkstar geostationary transfer orbit rideshare program, which was announced in 2024.
While Waymaker focuses on lower altitudes, Darkstar provides a managed pathway to deep space, delivering payloads to custom orbits, higher inclinations, or cislunar space. The first Darkstar mission is also targeted for a 2028 launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Chad Brinkley, the chief executive officer of SEOPS, described the new missions as a relief valve for the growing rideshare market. He emphasized that these combined programs give customers greater certainty regarding launch timelines, ensuring their spacecraft can launch exactly when intended.
Driving Industry Scalability
By directly procuring launch vehicles and managing the access layer, the company aims to move beyond traditional rideshare brokerage.
Evan Hoyt, executive vice president of SEOPS, stated that the company is building toward a future where launch access operates as a scalable program rather than a simple transaction.
He noted that initiatives like Waymaker and Darkstar are essential for delivering capacity amid rapidly increasing industry demand, allowing customers to secure space years in advance and align with precise mission windows.
