USSF-44

Shepherd Demonstration was built to test technologies for safe rendezvous and proximity operations at geosynchronous orbit. LDPE-2 (Long Duration Propulsive ESPA) served as a hosted-payload space tug, deploying several small experimental satellites directly to GEO; USUVL separated from an unknown spacecraft in January 2023 as part of the on-orbit demonstration sequence.

The second stage flew with the Falcon long coast mission-extension kit for the third time - a dark-painted thermal-control band, extra pressurization COPVs, and additional TEA-TEB ignition fluid - enabling a six-hour coast to deliver payloads directly into geosynchronous orbit.