ThinkX
An X-ray imaging system split across two satellites, one beaming X-rays through a target spacecraft and one catching them, to show what is inside it.
Why it matters
Cameras only show the outside of a satellite. An X-ray scan could show what materials and hardware are on board a spacecraft, which is why the Space Force is co-funding the first demonstration.
How the technology works
A source satellite and a receiver satellite fly on either side of a target. X-rays pass through it and the receiver turns them into an image showing the different materials on board.
The first demo plans a scan from about 1 km apart, with a 10 km test to follow. The receiver is to fly on Argo Space's first spacecraft; the source's host satellite had not been finalized as of May 2026.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction