Sidus Space to Launch LizzieSat-4 and LizzieSat-5 Together on SpaceX Bandwagon-6

LizzieSat-4 is in production, while LizzieSat-5 has completed environmental testing and awaits final integration.

Rhea-AI Summary

Sidus Space (SIDU) plans to launch LizzieSat-4 and LizzieSat-5 together on SpaceX's Bandwagon-6 mission no earlier than April 2027. LizzieSat-5 was previously assigned to Transporter-18, targeted for launch no earlier than October 2026. Sidus moved it to allow expanded qualification testing of its Fortis VPX - Maxima platform against requirements the company anticipates for future missions.

The launch would be Sidus's first from Florida's Space Coast. Both satellites are planned for a mid-inclination orbit, providing more frequent revisits of mid-latitude regions than the orbit previously planned for LizzieSat-5. Launch timing depends on testing, spacecraft integration, and launch vehicle and rideshare mission readiness.

News Explained

The spacecraft are at different readiness stages: LizzieSat-4 is in production and will proceed to environmental testing, while LizzieSat-5 has completed environmental testing and is awaiting final integration.

Market Context

On Sep 17, Sidus's non-binding 3GM Plus MOU included Fortis VPX Maxima among proposed satellite hard...

Analysis

On Sep 17, Sidus's non-binding 3GM Plus MOU included Fortis VPX Maxima among proposed satellite hardware, establishing an earlier proposed application for the platform as this announcement described expanded qualification testing across two LizzieSats.

Key Figures

Target launch timing: No earlier than April 2027 Previous launch target: No earlier than October 2026

Target launch timing

No earlier than April 2027

Bandwagon-6 target for LizzieSat-4 and LizzieSat-5

Previous launch target

No earlier than October 2026

LizzieSat-5 was previously manifested on Transporter-18

Historical Context

1 past event · Latest: Sep 17

1 event

1. Sep 17

   Fortis teaming MOU

   24h Move

   +2.5%

   Non-binding Slovenian satellite collaboration included Fortis VPX Maxima among proposed hardware.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

mid-inclination orbit, sun-synchronous profile, hosted payloads, spacecraft bus architecture

4 terms

mid-inclination orbit technical

"into a mid-inclination orbit"

A mid-inclination orbit is a satellite path around Earth tilted at a moderate angle relative to the equator, typically between low-tilt equatorial orbits and high-tilt polar orbits (roughly 30°–60° inclination). It determines which latitudes a satellite passes over and how often, so it matters to investors because inclination influences coverage area, service reliability, launch and operating costs, regulatory approvals, and the commercial value of space-based services—think of it as the satellite’s route map that shapes its market reach.

sun-synchronous profile technical

"than the sun-synchronous profile previously planned for LizzieSat-5"

An orbital pattern that keeps a satellite crossing each point on Earth at nearly the same local solar time, so lighting and shadow conditions are consistent from pass to pass. Like a photographer always shooting the same scene at the same hour, this makes images and sensor readings comparable over time, which matters to investors because it affects the reliability and commercial value of data from weather, mapping, agriculture, and surveillance satellites.

hosted payloads technical

"carrying hosted payloads from Solar MEMS, Lonestar and Maris-Tech"

Hosted payloads are additional instruments or equipment that a third party places aboard a primary satellite or spacecraft, effectively renting space and power instead of launching their own vehicle. For investors, they matter because they reduce launch costs and spread risk for the host operator while creating steady fee income or shared expenses for the customer, much like subleasing a room on a long road trip to save money and make the journey profitable.

spacecraft bus architecture technical

"spacecraft bus architecture, power and thermal budgets"

The spacecraft bus architecture is the underlying design and arrangement of a satellite’s core systems—power, propulsion, communications, thermal control, structure and avionics—that support whatever mission-specific payload is added. Like a car’s chassis and engine bay that house and connect components, the bus determines how easily satellites can be built, adapted, launched and maintained, so it affects development cost, production speed, reliability and upgradeability, which matter to investors.

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Consolidated mission marks first Sidus launch from Florida's Space Coast and follows expanded Fortis qualification testing

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sidus Space, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIDU) ("Sidus" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated space and defense technology company, today announced that LizzieSat-4 and LizzieSat-5 are currently aligned with launch on the SpaceX Bandwagon-6 rideshare mission, targeted for no earlier than April 2027. Launch timing will depend on the outcome of qualification testing, spacecraft integration, and launch vehicle and rideshare mission readiness.

LizzieSat-5 was previously manifested on SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission, targeted for launch no earlier than October 2026. Sidus elected to move the vehicle to Bandwagon-6 in order to expand qualification testing of the Company's Fortis VPX - Maxima platform, verifying performance against capability requirements the Company anticipates for future missions. "Expanding the Fortis qualification campaign lets us characterize the platform against a larger set of mission requirements in a single test window rather than repeating the effort vehicle by vehicle," said Patrick Butler, Chief Operating Officer of Sidus Space. "It also lets us characterize Fortis against environments and interfaces beyond a single spacecraft configuration, which is exactly what an open-architecture VPX approach enables."

Bandwagon-6 will launch from Florida's Space Coast, marking the first Sidus mission to launch from the same coast where its satellites are built. Both vehicles will move directly from the Company's Cape Canaveral manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing facility to the launch site. The mission will place LizzieSat-4 and LizzieSat-5 into a mid-inclination orbit, providing more frequent revisit over mid-latitude regions than the sun-synchronous profile previously planned for LizzieSat-5.

Fortis-based opportunities in the Company's pipeline extend across defense and commercial mission applications. In July 2026, Sidus entered into a teaming agreement with a commercial space contractor, under which Sidus would contribute Fortis as the proposed mission processor in support of a proposal for an advanced orbital mission designed to deliver resilient, high-performance capabilities in support of national security objectives. Pursuits of this kind require Fortis to be assessed against system-level, mission, and payload processing requirements, spacecraft bus architecture, power and thermal budgets, form factor constraints, and data handling architecture.

LizzieSat-4 is currently in production and will proceed to environmental testing, carrying hosted payloads from Solar MEMS, Lonestar and Maris-Tech. LizzieSat-5, carrying a hosted payload from The Netherlands Organization (TNO), has completed environmental testing, including vibration testing conducted at Element U.S. Space & Defense in Orlando, Florida, and is awaiting final integration. Both spacecraft will also fly a Simera Sense HyperScape-100 imager and Satlabs Polaris AIS receiver as part of the Sidus payload suite.

"Our customers are asking for more capable processing at the edge, across land, sea, air, and space applications," said Carol Craig, Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Sidus Space. "We made a deliberate choice to complete the additional testing on the ground rather than discover a gap on orbit. Proving that capability before we commit it to a mission is the right call for our customers and for the fleet."

About Sidus Space  

Sidus Space, Inc.  (NASDAQ: SIDU) is a vertically integrated space and defense technology company delivering satellite manufacturing and technology integration across all orbits, including LEO, GEO and lunar; all domain digital mission computing solutions; mission planning and management operations; AI enabling products and services; and space and defense hardware manufacturing. With its mission of Space Access Reimagined®, Sidus Space is committed to rapid innovation, adaptable solutions, and the optimization of space systems and data collection performance. With demonstrated space heritage, including designing, manufacturing and operating its own satellite and sensor system, LizzieSat®, Sidus Space serves government, defense, intelligence, and commercial customers around the globe. Strategically headquartered on Florida's Space Coast, Sidus Space operates a 35,000-square-foot space manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing facility with direct access to nearby launch facilities. For more information, visit: sidusspace.com

Forward-Looking Statements  

Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected trading commencement and closing dates. The words 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'continue,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'plan,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'should,' 'target,' 'will,' 'would' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties related to market conditions and other factors described more fully in the section entitled 'Risk Factors' in Sidus Space's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Sidus Space, Inc. specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  

Contacts:   

Investor Relations
investor-relations@sidusspace.com   

Media Inquiries
press@sidusspace.com  

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SOURCE Sidus Space, Inc.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

When will Sidus Space launch LizzieSat-4 and LizzieSat-5 on Bandwagon-6?

The Bandwagon-6 launch is targeted for no earlier than April 2027. Its timing depends on qualification testing, spacecraft integration, and launch vehicle and rideshare mission readiness.

Why did Sidus Space move LizzieSat-5 from Transporter-18 to Bandwagon-6?

Sidus moved LizzieSat-5 to Bandwagon-6 to expand qualification testing of its Fortis VPX - Maxima platform. The testing is intended to verify performance against capability requirements the company anticipates for future missions.

What payloads will Sidus Space carry on LizzieSat-4 and LizzieSat-5?

LizzieSat-4 will carry hosted payloads from Solar MEMS, Lonestar and Maris-Tech, while LizzieSat-5 will carry one from The Netherlands Organization (TNO). Both spacecraft will also carry a Simera Sense HyperScape-100 imager and a Satlabs Polaris AIS receiver as part of the Sidus payload suite.