Project Shadow
Project Shadow
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Apex Launches America's First Commercially-Led, On-Orbit Space-Based Interceptor Demonstration
Launching net june 2026
Apex's Orbital Magazine: The Foundation of Space-Based Interceptors
Project Shadow is an Apex-led technology maturation mission to validate the core technology behind Orbital Magazines, spacecraft designed to host and support space-based interceptors (SBIs) that protect the U.S and its allies from missile threats.
These host platforms provide SBIs with environmental control, interceptor-host communications, fire control, in-flight target updates, and other mission-critical functions within a layered, resilient, and persistent architecture.
Orbital Magazines are a new concept, being flown for the first time as part of Project Shadow. The Project will host, deploy, and fire two demonstration interceptors to lay the foundation for future SBI capabilities.
Project Shadow will deploy scaled-down interceptors — Apex’s Nova- and Comet-class Orbital Magazines can carry over 1,000 and 5,000 kg of interceptor payload, respectively.
Mission Objectives
Primary: Mature core Orbital Magazine technology to pave the way for constellation-scale deployment by 2028.
Deploy & Fire Demonstration SBI
Host, deploy, and fire two demonstration interceptors with integrated solid rocket motor boosters to demonstrate high-thrust, high–Δv, high-G-force performance and pave the way for full-scale deployment.
Demonstrate C2 & IFTU
Demonstrate space-to-space communications between the Orbital Magazine and interceptors, providing In-Flight Target Updates (IFTU) to the interceptors and receiving key telemetry data from them.
Detect & Track In-Space Threats
Leverage multi-spectral sensors on the Orbital Magazine to enable Missile Warning/Missile Track (MW/MT) and kill assessment, supporting future sensing applications for proliferated missile defense constellations.
Apex Orbital Magazine
Nova-Class
Mission FAQs
An Orbital Magazines is a spacecraft platform that hosts space-based interceptors (SBIs) in orbit. In addition to offering keep-alive capabilities before deployment, the Orbital Magazine will receive fire control signals, deploy one or multiple interceptors, and keep a consistent line of communication with the interceptor for IFTUs and other critical applications. Apex's manufacturing facilities are already equipped to ramp orbital magazine production and deliver hundreds of these platforms each year.