Space Systems

NASA selected PiLogic for a six-month SBIR Phase I effort to evaluate its Manifest system for detecting and reasoning about faults across spacecraft electrical power, thermal-management, and attitude-control systems. The study signals NASA’s interest in explainable, probabilistic diagnostics, but is not a deployment decision; the award value and any follow-on procurement remain undisclosed.

The U.S. Space Force awarded AST SpaceMobile a $100 million contract for space-based sensing, extending the company’s government work beyond satellite communications. Management characterized the award as an initial step toward a potentially larger program, but no follow-on procurement, schedule, contract mechanism, or competition details have been provided.

Space Systems Command seeks white papers by November 23, 2026, from U.S.-owned companies interested in associate membership in the Space Data Network Consortium. The no-dollar-value OTA notice is market research—not an RFP or a promise of follow-on work—and requires relevant technical capabilities, active SAM.gov registration, and systems meeting CUI protection requirements.

The Space Development Agency awarded SpaceX an initial $9.9 million research and risk-reduction contract to evaluate integrating its Plug and Play Laser technology with missile-warning and tracking satellites. The work runs through October 7, 2027, and could inform future optical communications requirements, but no follow-on opportunity has been announced.

The Naval Research Laboratory is seeking proposals for SESPD III, a full-and-open, five-year IDIQ with a potential value of $130 million. The December 28, 2026 deadline, 40-mile facility-proximity requirement, and possible top secret/SCI clearance needs could shape bidder eligibility, teaming, and proposal planning.

The Department of the Air Force seeks industry white papers on mature AI/ML software for autonomous spacecraft operations in cislunar space, with responses due December 4, 2026. The RFI is not a funded R&D effort or contract award, but may inform future requirements; vendors should address rapid verification, flight qualification, computing needs, updates, and safeguards.

The Department of the Air Force is seeking industry input on a proposed Cislunar Space System of up to five spacecraft, with government-provided payloads and industry-provided spacecraft buses and mission services. Responses are due November 24, 2026; the RFI may lead to up to five fixed-price preliminary design studies, but does not commit the government to a fleet, funding, or follow-on procurement.

The Department of Defense’s Office of Strategic Capital conditionally committed a $150 million loan to LeoLabs to expand its global radar network for tracking objects in low Earth and very low Earth orbit. The financing is not a procurement award or solicitation and depends on LeoLabs securing another $150 million in matching funds and meeting due diligence, legal, and financial requirements.

A Federal News Network discussion warns that AI may make satellite cyberattacks easier as the technology changes the cybersecurity landscape. Cyber researcher and former hacker Alissa Knight is slated to demonstrate a live satellite attack at the CyberSat conference, highlighting security challenges for government and commercial space operators.

The Department of the Air Force is considering a Cislunar Space System and may award up to five preliminary design studies for a constellation of as many as five satellites. Potential work spans spacecraft buses, integration and testing, and ground support for a government-provided payload, with initial operations expected in 2031; solicitation timing and contract values remain unspecified.

The Pentagon awarded Raytheon a $6.3B missile interceptor replenishment contract, while Boeing locked in a seven-year PAC-3 MSE seeker production deal and the Space Force selected Northrop Grumman and True Anomaly for space-to-space ISR satellites. These moves signal sustained demand across missile defense, manufacturing capacity, and orbital surveillance.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is supporting CesiumAstro’s Austin expansion through a $185 million direct loan approved in January 2026 and a $280 million credit agreement signed in September. The export-oriented manufacturing investment supports facility and equipment needs and is expected to create more than 500 jobs, but it is financing—not a competitive government contract opportunity.

SpaceWERX facilitated a Direct-to-Phase-II SBIR award to The Tech7 Company to prototype PLATE, an AWS-based, unclassified testbed for developing and evaluating applications for potential use in Space Development Agency tranches and the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. Work is scheduled to begin in October 2026; the award value and contract number were not disclosed, and a future Phase III is a possible transition path—not an open solicitation or guaranteed award.

BAE Systems has finalized the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Space Force’s $1.2 billion MEO Epoch 2 program. This progress allows for the production of satellites enhancing U.S. missile warning capabilities, emphasizing the growing demand for advanced defense technologies.

Parsons Corporation is awarded a $245 million IDIQ contract to enhance satellite ground systems for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. This win demonstrates continued federal investment in modernizing space systems and emphasizes the importance of long-lasting partnerships in defense contracting.

The Space Development Agency has awarded $1.75 billion in OTA contracts to L3Harris and Sierra Space for the development of missile defense satellites. These satellites will significantly enhance U.S. missile tracking capabilities and create new procurement opportunities in the defense sector.

L3Harris Technologies is benefitting from sustained defense spending, fostering ongoing demand for its systems. This trend highlights significant opportunities for procurement professionals in the defense sector, as they consider the implications of stable budgets on contract continuity and modernization initiatives.

The U.S. Space Force has awarded a **$438 million** contract to Viasat and Intelsat General for the Protected Tactical Satellite-Global (PTS-G) program. This initiative focuses on enhancing secure military communications through advanced satellite technology, with implications for future procurement strategies and collaborations in defense.

The U.S. Space Force has announced a $20 million challenge to advance commercial satellite sustainment technologies. This initiative opens significant contracting opportunities for businesses in the space logistics sector, focusing on innovations like in-orbit refueling and repairs, with demonstrations slated for 2027.

Northrop Grumman secures multi-year contracts from the DoD to enhance missile warning and space systems. These initiatives reflect the government's commitment to investing in advanced defense capabilities, particularly in response to evolving threats in the space domain.

York Space Systems has secured multiple IDIQ contracts for next-generation national security space projects, positioning the company as a key player in federal space architecture. The awards highlight an increased focus on innovative defense capabilities and collaborative opportunities for vendors in the space sector.