Apex, a satellite manufacturing startup located in Los Angeles, is committing its own funds to showcase its capability to construct and deploy interceptors in space for "Golden Dome," President Trump's proposed missile defense system. The company announced on October 22nd its intention to launch a demonstration mission in June 2026. The goal is to prove its ability to design and operate the orbital weapons that the Trump administration believes are crucial for national defense. By funding the project independently, Apex intends to prove that ambitious defense capabilities can be developed on commercial timelines, bypassing traditional government procurement processes.

"This is going to be something that is critically important for the U.S. and our allies," said Ian Cinnamon, Apex’s CEO and co-founder, to SpaceNews. The company plans to invest $15 million in the demonstration of space-based interceptors, called Project Shadow. In January, the White House issued an executive order outlining the development of a multi-layered missile defense system. It specifically calls for the deployment of space-based interceptors, emphasizing "proliferation" – a sufficient quantity to ensure consistent coverage. Existing ground and sea-based missile defense systems are designed to counter threats during the midcourse or terminal phases, frequently after warheads have separated and countermeasures have been deployed. Space-based interceptors, operating from orbit, would be strategically positioned to detect launches, receive fire-control commands, and respond rapidly – ideally neutralizing missiles before they exit enemy airspace or release additional threats or decoys.

Founded in 2022, Apex manufactures three types of satellite buses: the Aries, Nova, and Comet, with payload capacities ranging from 100 to 500 kilograms. For the demonstration, the company will utilize a Nova bus as its primary platform, naming it the "orbital magazine." The orbital magazine will deploy two interceptors in space, each equipped with a high-thrust solid rocket motor. The test will demonstrate the host platform's ability to manage the interceptors' environment, issue a fire control command, and establish an in-space cross-link for transmitting updates after deployment. "Closing that cross link is really important," Cinnamon said. The satellite will employ a software-defined radio capable of transmitting and receiving Link-182 messages, a data link standard adopted by the U.S. Space Force for its future MILNET communications data relay network in low Earth orbit.

The interceptors present their own unique technical challenges that Apex aims to address. Thermally controlling solid rocket motors in the vacuum of space is particularly difficult. "So we're proving out all of that technology," Cinnamon said. The Nova platform will carry a pair of infrared sensors to track both interceptors after deployment. However, Apex will not be firing these interceptors at any targets. "We're not going to create space debris. We're not going to intercept anything in this demonstration," Cinnamon clarified. The goal is to demonstrate the spacecraft's ability to release and track the interceptors within the space environment. Apex will deploy the satellite at an altitude of 500 kilometers above Earth, a common altitude for SpaceX to release rideshare satellites for low Earth orbit missions.

Cinnamon stated that he has already briefed leaders of the Golden Dome program office at the Pentagon about the demonstration. He has enlisted experts from the defense industry for technical guidance but declined to name specific corporate partners. The Pentagon’s existing missile defense contractors possess significant knowledge of interceptor technology. However, they may lack the capabilities for mass production and large-scale space deployment. "We can be a really good partner for them as they go after those contracts," Cinnamon said, highlighting Apex's potential role. Apex recently concluded a Series D funding round, achieving a valuation exceeding $1 billion and solidifying its position as a rapidly growing aerospace startup in the U.S. While the company has launched only one satellite to date (in 2024), Cinnamon confirmed that orders are being fulfilled for commercial and government clients, including the U.S. Space Force. He emphasized that Apex’s manufacturing approach allows it to adjust production based on demand.

"It’s all about the ability to go hit that number and the ramp rate to get to that number, as opposed to just producing satellites and having them sit on the shelf," he said. "We already have a lot of customers … and we have a nice, healthy backlog." The future of Golden Dome remains uncertain, particularly regarding its construction and procurement processes. "We’re finally at a point in time where all of the technology needed to do space-based interceptors is available," Cinnamon said. "It’s all disconnected, but it’s all available. We have boosters, we have seekers, we have kill vehicles, we have satellites." The current challenge, he added, lies in integration and scaling. "I don’t know how the government’s going to procure this, or how the money will flow."