Moonraker’s Avalon Mission

From earth to orbit, open architecture is the future of defense innovation in all domains.

Follow along as we launch the DoD’s Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) initiative to Space.

Status: Successful Launch

Launch Date: March 30, 2026

April 2, 2026

Avalon Mission Falcon-9

Moonraker Takes Flight

Photo: SpaceX

On March 30th at 4:02am, Moonraker successfully launched aboard a Falcon 9 as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-16 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Moonraker was 1 of 119 payloads on the flight to Low Earth Orbit.

Following a deployment sequence, our partner’s spacecraft successfully separated from the stack, officially kicking off Moonraker’s Avalon Mission. This milestone signals the transition from launch to on-orbit operations.

In the coming days, Moonraker will power on and begin RF data collection.

Check out a clip of the launch below & SpaceX’s full stream here.

March 16, 2026

Our team successfully performed the final Over the Air (OTA) software update to Moonraker ahead of launch. This OTA included a flight software update to enable multi-mission operations on orbit and expands Moonraker’s capabilities from day one in space.

Moonraker has now arrived at Vandenberg Space Force Base and completed its final test checkout. With key integration milestones behind us, Moonraker is moving into final preparation for Avalon, launching in less than 2 weeks.

Final OTA Prior to Launch

March 12, 2026

Meet the team behind the Avalon Mission, the engineers, business leaders, and innovators who brought the Moonraker payload to life. As the mission prepares to carry this RF capability into orbit for the first time, the team shares their firsts and favorites in music.

Meet the Band

Arko Banik

Senior Software Engineer

  • Instrument I can play: Saxophone

  • First album: Graduation

  • First concert: M83

  • Concert I wish I attended: Daft Punk

  • Dream festival headliners: Daft Punk, Vulfpeck, Odesza

Bernardo Alfaro

Senior Mechanical Engineer

  • First album: Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (50 Cent)

  • First concert: Beyond Wonderland

  • Favorite artist: 50 cent

  • Concert I wish I attended: Lady Gaga in Copacabana

  • Dream festival headliners: Michael Jackson, 2pac, Lady Gaga

Jacob Mielke

Embedded Software Engineer

  • First album: Before my time

  • First concert: Russel Dickerson

  • Favorite artist: HARDY

  • Concert I wish I attended: The Highwaymen

  • Dream festival headliners: Stephen Wilson Jr., HARDY, Laney Wilson

Doug Marimon

Retired. Co-founder & former VP, Space Systems

  • First album: Paul McCartney & Wings, “Band on the Run”

  • First concert: Santana, Universal Amphitheatre (when it was open air)

  • Favorite LA venue: The Forum

  • Concert I wish I attended: Sting Symphonicity Tour – great rock & full orchestra always kills

  • Dream festival headliners: Blues Traveler, Sheryl Crow, and Eric Clapton

Larissa Mitsuyoshi

Business Development Operations

  • First concert: Jon Bellion at The Masonic in SF

  • Favorite artist: Noah Kahan

  • Favorite LA venue: The Wiltern! I LOVE an intimate venue, and I’ve seen my favorite artists there.

  • Concert I wish I attended: Coachella 2022 (Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Chelsea Cutler, FINNEAS)

  • Dream festival headliners: Noah Kahan, Chelsea Cutler, Jon Bellion

Chris Mikus

Systems Engineer

  • First album: Metallica black

  • First concert: Genesis

  • Favorite band: Led Zeppelin

  • Concert I wish I attended: Rush

  • Dream festival headliners: Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Elton John

Quan Nguyen

Space Systems IPT Lead

  • Instrument I can play: Multiple attempts at the guitar

  • First album: Weezer

  • First concert: Depeche Mode

  • Favorite bands: Linkin Park, Green Day

  • Dream festival headliners: Nirvana, Green Day, Weezer

James Naegle

Senior Digital Design Engineer

  • First album: The Offspring, “Smash”

  • Favorite artist: Morgan Wallen

  • Favorite LA venue: The Hollywood Bowl

  • Concert I wish I attended: Tom Petty

  • Dream festival headliners: Morgan Wallen, Garth Brooks and Tom Petty

Kevin Sadykhov

Engineering Manager

  • Instrument I can play: Guitar

  • First album: Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon

  • First concert: Santana

  • Concert I wish I attended: Grateful Dead 12/31/78

  • Dream festival headliners: Albert King, Wu-Tang Clan, Grateful Dead

Tom Quast

Business Development

  • First album: AC/DC Back in Black

  • First concert: Beach Boys

  • Favorite LA venue: Greek Theater

  • Concert I wish I attended: U2 at the Rose Bowl

  • Dream festival headliners: Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton

Bryan Terlecky

Vice President, Space Systems

  • First album: Motley Crue Girls, Girls, Girls 1987

  • First concert: Dave Matthews Band 1994

  • Favorite LA venue: The Greek Theater

  • Concert I wish I attended: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

  • Dream festival headliners: Bruce Springsteen, My Morning Jacket, Oasis

Introducing the Moonraker Avalon Mission Patch

February 18, 2026

The mission is named after one of Los Angeles’s earliest concert venues. Originally known as the Hollywood Playhouse, then the El Capitan Theatre and the Palace, the venue was ultimately renamed the Avalon. The name reflects Moonraker’s inaugural flight to space, where it will sense and detect activity across the RF spectrum like how audiences hear sound at live concerts.

The mission patch draws inspiration from psychedelic 1970s band illustrations and iconography. Shaped like the Pacific Defense shield, the patch features Moonraker prominently ascending on its path to space. Below, the Earth highlights the California coastline, home to Pacific Defense’s headquarters in El Segundo.

Moonraker’s launch trajectory begins just north of El Segundo at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Subtle waveforms emerge from the darkness of space, symbolizing the SSA and EMSO missions Moonraker will carry out during Avalon.

Payload Qualification and Delivery

November 13, 2025

Space Qualification

Moonraker is space ready! We successfully completed qualification testing of the Moonraker payload; a critical step that cleared the way for its inaugural space flight.  Qualification testing included Vibration and Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) testing per SMC-S-016, and Electromagnetic Interface (EMI) testing per MIL-STD-461G.

Delivery

Following completion of qualification testing, Pacific Defense proudly delivered the Moonraker flight payload for space vehicle integration.

In preparation for the integration phase, Pacific Defense developed a Payload Interface Control Document (ICD) and completed multiple payload integration events to ensure seamless mechanical, electrical, and software/data compatibility.

This achievement reflects the commitment of our team to delivering mission-ready, space-qualified systems. Onward and upward!