The U.S. Space Force has awarded contracts with a cumulative value of $1.1 million to four space monitoring companies to test the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve program, Breaking Defense reported Friday.
The selected contractors will provide space domain awareness data for the CASR program, which was launched on March 1.
What Is CASR?
The CASR program is designed to utilize commercial space companies for military missions during wartime. Similar to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, which will require commercial airlines to aid in military logistics operations, CASR will task space companies to provide satellite-based capabilities such as satellite communications, satellite tracking and ground imagery when necessary.
The pilot program is intended to test the processes and ensure the framework’s soundness. The selected companies “are providing a peacetime level amount of capability.”
Challenges With CASR
According to Col. Richard Kniseley, senior materiel leader of the commercial space office, Space Force is “still working through some issues or obstacles or challenges with industry” despite the program’s early launch. These issues include clauses enabling the U.S. government to force commercial satellite companies involved with the program to withhold service to other customers. Another challenge that needs to be addressed is clauses that prioritize services to military users.
Kniseley also mentioned the lack of funds as a challenge for the program. With little funding, Space Force only contracted four companies. However, the service awarded each with three-month contracts instead of one month.
Space Force plans to award CASR contracts to other mission areas including satcom, timing and navigation, positioning, and tactical surveillance, reconnaissance and tracking, or TacSRT.
