Gravitics Awarded U.S. Space Force Contract for Tactically Responsive Space Development

Seattle,Washington April 25^th, 2024 – Gravitics, Inc. announced today it has been awarded a $1.7M Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Direct-to-Phase II contract from SpaceWERX. In partnership with Space Systems Command’s Space Safari Program Office, this effort will focus on a new mission area for Gravitics, Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS).  Under this contract, Gravitics will leverage its commercial space station product architecture to develop orbital platforms that will enable rapid and flexible response options for the United States Space Force. Gravitics’ commercial space station modules can support a wide range of military and civilian applications, including in-space rapid response applications.

“We are looking at all options to meet the mission on tactically relevant timelines. The Gravitics space station module offers an unconventional and potentially game-changing solution for TacRS,” said Lt Col Jason Altenhofen, Space Safari’s Director of Operations. “As we look into the future, the innovative use of commercial technologies will be an important aspect to solving some of our toughest challenges.”

“Developing and manufacturing commercial space station modules will continue to be at the core of our company mission,” said Colin Doughan, CEO of Gravitics. “Gravitics is thrilled to have the opportunity to offer these commercial capabilities to the Department of Defense.

Gravitics is supported by several partners under this contract, including Rocket Lab USA, True Anomaly, Space Exploration Engineering, and Eta Space. These partners will assist in refining mission architecture, developing use-case specific outfitting, and developing flight hardware.

About Gravitics:

Founded in 2021, Gravitics, Inc. is an aerospace company that designs and manufactures large space structures, including pressurized space station modules–the building blocks for scalable space platforms. Gravitics is enabling a new era in human and robotic utilization of low earth orbit and beyond. Visit gravitics.com to learn more.

About Space Safari:

The Space Safari Program Office, under U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC), was created in January 2021 to respond to high-priority, urgent space needs by rapidly acquiring, integrating, and executing missions in support of USSPACECOM requirements and other combatant commander urgent operational needs.

Space Safari is the lead organization driving the USSF forward on cutting edge Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) capabilities. This requires an end-to-end approach for employing space capabilities to provide options to commanders responding to threats in space.  Space Safari is active across the entire spectrum of the TacRS mission set, to include acquiring space vehicles, integrating payload sensors, modifying ground architecture, developing concept of operations for mission planning, shaping mission parameters to address specific missions, and conducting initial on-orbit operations.  Space Safari is also actively engaging with community partners on policies/procedures, tabletop exercises, and evaluation of operational concepts.

About SpaceWERX:

As the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a unique division within AFWERX, SpaceWERX inspires and empowers collaboration with innovators to accelerate capabilities and shape our future in space. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SpaceWERX employs 28 military, civilian and contractor personnel executing an annual $457 million budget. Since it was aligned under AFRL in Aug. 2021, SpaceWERX has executed 906 contracts worth more than $690 million to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: spacewerx.us.

Distribution A. Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. AFRL-2024-2082