HawkEye 360 Pathfinder Satellite Model Featured in New Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Exhibit

The exhibition recognizes the HawkEye 360 Pathfinder as the first satellite to locate and capture a wide range of radio signals. Pathfinder is presented alongside historic U.S. government systems that helped change the face of modern signals intelligence.

“RTX Living in the Space Age” explores the space technologies and infrastructure that quietly support daily life. The exhibition examines the development of systems for Earth observation, communication, and navigation. Within the gallery’s section on signals intelligence from space, the HawkEye 360’s Pathfinder model represents the emergence and impact of defense tech innovation.

Launched in December 2018 and operating in a three-satellite formation about 500 kilometers above Earth, Pathfinder demonstrated a new approach to space-based insights and validated the concept of geolocating and characterizing RF activity as a service. This mission became the foundation for HawkEye 360’s operational constellation, which has since expanded to more than thirty satellites delivering global domain awareness.