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DARPA’s Robotic GEO Satellite Servicing Tech on Schedule for 2024 Launch
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DARPA’s Robotic GEO Satellite Servicing Tech on Schedule for 2024 Launch

A robotic system from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency designed to facilitate satellite servicing and inspection has completed all component-level tests and is on track to launch in 2024 for a demonstration mission in geosynchronous Earth orbit.

Engineers will finalize testing of the system’s flight hardware and software before the end of 2022 as part of DARPA’s Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites program and start integrating the robotic payload with the spacecraft bus in 2023, the agency said Tuesday.

DARPA said it expects on-orbit satellite servicing work to kick off in 2025.

In March 2020, the agency selected Northrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics subsidiary to build the mission robotic vehicle bus and provide launch and operations support for the program.

“Through public-private partnership, DARPA will help propel this technology from demonstration to operational capability,” said Ana Saplan, RSGS program manager at DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office.

“Soon, instead of relegating satellites to space junk because of a broken part or lack of propellant, our robot mechanic will be making repair ‘service calls’ in space,” Saplan added.

DARPA is funding the Naval Research Laboratory to oversee development work on robotic servicing capabilities under the RSGS program.

The RSGS system will have two robotic arms, on-orbit checkout and calibration equipment, multiple robotic tools, cameras and lighting, equipment stowage ports and related avionics boxes.

According to DARPA, the first assembled arm is preparing to start thermal vacuum testing following the completion of vibration, functional and electromagnetic testing. The second arm is set to begin environmental testing at NRL this fall.

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DOD Offices, Mitre Team Up to Develop Arctic Microgrid System
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DOD Offices, Mitre Team Up to Develop Arctic Microgrid System

The Defense Innovation Unit will collaborate with other Department of Defense components and Mitre in an effort to build a microgrid that can serve as a reliable source of energy in remote or mobile military operations in the Arctic region.

As part of the Arctic Grid Energy Solutions project, DOD awarded HDT Global a contract to design a grid prototype equipped with an energy efficient shelter and existing cold region technologies from the commercial sector, DIU said Tuesday.

The goal of AGES is to create a mobile system with battery storage and generators that can withstand temperatures as low as -50 degrees Fahrenheit.

DOD expects the prototype to enter the testing phase in the fall of 2023 and be deployed to Alaska for the 2024 Arctic Edge Exercise.

The project involves the following offices:

  • Engineer Research and Development Center – Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory Testing and Demonstration
  • Engineer Research and Development Center – Construction Engineering Research Laboratory
  • North American Aerospace Defense Command
  • Office of Naval Research – Cybersecurity Oversight
  • Office of the Undersecretary of Defense Acquisition and Sustainment, Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund
  • Project Manager Expeditionary Energy and Sustainment Systems
  • Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Rapid Reaction Technology Office
  • U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
  • U.S. Army Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support
  • U.S. Northern Command
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Retired NASA Astronaut Tim Kopra Named Nanoracks CEO; Matthew Kuta Quoted
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Retired NASA Astronaut Tim Kopra Named Nanoracks CEO; Matthew Kuta Quoted

Retired NASA astronaut Tim Kopra has been named CEO of Nanoracks by Voyager Space.

Kopra is slated to guide the company’s expansion within the commercial space services market, which includes the ongoing development of the Starlab Space Station, the two organizations announced from Houston, Texas on Wednesday.

Voyager President and COO Matthew Kuta emphasized the expertise Kopra brings to the table and the role it will play in furthering the company’s developments in space-related ventures.

“As an astronaut who served on the International Space Station, he understands the unique needs, challenges, and opportunities for commercial space services and will provide invaluable insight as we continue down our development path on Starlab,” he said.

Previous corporate leadership roles held include vice president of robotics and space operations at MDA and president of OneWeb technologies.

Preceding his entry into the private sector, Kopra dedicated 18 years to NASA working as an astronaut, during which he served as a flight engineer on Expedition 46 and as commander of Expedition 47.

The leader additionally dedicated nine years to the U.S. Army. During his time with the military, Kopra served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He also studied aerospace engineering, propelling him to engineering roles within the Army, one of which supported the NASA Johnson Space Center.

“I am looking forward to applying my skill set and experience as a former astronaut as well as a space industry executive to further our technologies and capabilities powering the space revolution, forging the next generation of space infrastructure and technology,” Kopra commented.

His appointment follows the announcement of multiple new projects for Voyager and Nanoracks. The two organizations partnered with Hilton in September to design crew lodging and hospitality suites for the Starlab Space Station. This task coincides with the companies’ collaboration with Lockheed Martin to build the overall station, in which Nanoracks is the prime developer.

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Business Leader Maury Bradsher Appointed to MITRE’s Board of Trustees; Jason Providakes Quoted
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Business Leader Maury Bradsher Appointed to MITRE’s Board of Trustees; Jason Providakes Quoted

Maury Bradsher, chairman and CEO of investment and holdings firm District Equity, has been selected to serve on MITRE’s Board of Trustees.

The executive brings decades of expertise surrounding systems engineering, finance and business within federal markets to the board, the McLean, Virginia-based company said Wednesday.

Jason Providakes, MITRE president and CEO and a three-time Wash100 Award winner, emphasized Bradsher’s experience and commented on how it aligns with the organization’s mission.

“Maury’s expertise in technology and the federal contracting community complements MITRE’s role as a bridge between industry and government,” Providakes remarked.

In his current role at District Equity, Bradsher oversees the organization’s portfolio which spans the industries of defense, healthcare and cybersecurity. Alongside this position, the leader works with Star Mountain Capital, an asset management firm, as a Senior Advisor.

Prior to joining the two organizations, Bradsher served as a lead investor and director at ASSETT, where he advised on corporate strategy and board operations. He also founded Azimuth Business Solutions, an engineering and software development-focused company dedicated to providing enterprise-level IT services to federal agencies, including the State Department and Department of Agriculture.

The leader’s expansive involvement in the industry includes additional board positions, serving as a trustee for the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress and as a board member for LLYC.

MITRE Board of Trustees Chairman Mike Rogers discussed his excitement in welcoming Bradsher to the board.

“His expertise will help ensure the MITRE team continues to solve the nation’s hardest security, safety, and technology challenges,” the chairman stated.

In addition to his industry expertise, Bradsher holds a passion for diversity, equity, inclusion and justice missions with a particular interest in affordable housing and increasing capital access for minorities.

The executive also lectures on mergers and acquisitions and business valuation with the ASPEN Institute and the Turnaround Management Association. Additional topics he covers include finance, entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership.

NGA Requests Info on GEOINT Reporting Integration Management Requirement
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NGA Requests Info on GEOINT Reporting Integration Management Requirement

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Orchestration Services Project Office has begun seeking information on a new program that aims to develop a modernized GEOINT analytic environment.

A notice posted Tuesday on SAM.gov states that the OrcSrvcs Project Office is looking for industry partners capable of delivering services to support incremental deployments of new business analytics, GEOINT reporting and workflow orchestration capabilities.

The purpose of the GEOINT reporting integration management requirement is to streamline the discovery, analysis and reporting of imagery intelligence in support of national security missions.

The government intends to award a multiple-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the GRIM project.

Interested parties have until Dec. 2 to respond to the RFI.

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White House Unveils Nature-Based Solutions Roadmap to Address Climate Concerns
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White House Unveils Nature-Based Solutions Roadmap to Address Climate Concerns

The Biden administration has released a roadmap outlining a set of strategic recommendations on developing nature-based policies to address climate change and advance progress toward climate targets.

The Nature-Based Solutions Roadmap recommends that federal agencies update existing policies and guidance, allocate funding for domestic and international climate projects, expand educational and workforce training and advance climate research and innovation, the White House said Tuesday.

John Podesta, senior adviser to the president for clean energy innovation and implementation and chair of the National Climate Task Force, unveiled the roadmap during the ongoing 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The administration also announced that it is establishing a technical working group to help federal agencies develop cost-effective nature-based policies and has allocated $25 billion in infrastructure and climate funding.

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BAE Systems Secures AFRL Contract for AI-Based Planning Tools; Mike Miller Quoted
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BAE Systems Secures AFRL Contract for AI-Based Planning Tools; Mike Miller Quoted

BAE Systems has won a $17 million Air Force Research Laboratory contract to incorporate AI into an interactive game environment to improve the efficiency of air operations planning for contested environments.

The Technical Area 2, Plan Gaming and Outcome Analysis contract tasks BAE Systems with further developing the Fight Tonight program through the delivery of autonomy-based planner tools, the U.K.-based organization announced from Nashua, New Hampshire on Wednesday.

Mike Miller, technical director for BAE Systems’ Fast Labs, highlighted the benefits of using AI to improve this technology.

“The drag-and-drop video game-like interactions would reduce the time it takes to make a series of incremental adjustments to a plan from hours to minutes,” he said.

The company’s Fast Labs research and development unit is expected to work alongside subcontractors Uncharted Software and Kestrel Institute to build technology that will quickly create and assess multiple plans and enable selection of the strongest option.

Manual planning cycles require large amounts of time, which results in the evaluation of fewer possible options. BAE’s product is intended to deliver an interactive user interface that allows planners to quickly navigate possible futures and choose the best option in an environment prone to sudden change.

With the implementation of these tools, the selection process will consider additional generated plans, which would not be possible without technological assistance.

This contract follows a $7.8 million award from the AFRL tasking the company with delivering a suite of ML and fusion algorithms to facilitate autonomous mobile target detection, tracking and identification.

The order also accompanies three U.S. Navy contracts awarded earlier this year. The first of these awards, which was granted in January, has a value of $137 million and supports C5ISR training.

A second contract valued at $101.2 million enables the maintenance and modernization of the USS Mitscher, while an additional $123.8 million award tasks BAE with sustaining and refurbishing the USS Ross, both of which are guided-missile destroyers.

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DOD Eyes Improved Hypersonic Testing Capability With MACH-TB Project
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DOD Eyes Improved Hypersonic Testing Capability With MACH-TB Project

Scott Wilson, developmental test lead for hypersonics and advanced capabilities at the U.S. Navy, said the Department of Defense is building a new hypersonics test bed to reach its goal of conducting at least one flight per week, DefenseNews reported Tuesday.

DOD is working with an industry team led by Leidos subsidiary Dynetics on the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed development to advance the development and deployment of weapon systems capable of flying at speeds greater than Mach 5.

“We have to test more often to collect data and provide that data to our stakeholders so they can make evaluations on their weapon systems, what they want to transition, what types of technology can help feed them and help provide additional capability,” said Wilson.

The MACH-TB program aims to perform early tests in the spring or summer of 2023, focusing on higher-priority DOD programs, including the U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon.

Dynetics, which will serve as the initiative’s prime integrator, has subcontracted Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to support the development of a modular experimental glide body for the test bed.

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University of Central Florida Wins DOE’s CyberForce Competition
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University of Central Florida Wins DOE’s CyberForce Competition

A team from the University of Central Florida won the eighth annual CyberForce Competition hosted by the Department of Energy’s cybersecurity office and Argonne National Laboratory.

The UCF team was the first among 144 university participants to complete a simulated mission that required the assessment of IT vulnerabilities and the development of cyber defenses for a model infrastructure, DOE said Monday.

The competition, which was held on Nov. 4 and 5, centered on a staged electric vehicle manufacturing facility whose recently acquired solar farms and infrastructure became exposed to IT threats.

Two UCF teams secured first and second place, while a group representing Pennsylvania State University won third place. The contestants came from schools across 35 U.S. states and Puerto Rico.

DOE established the CyberForce program to drive IT defense technology projects in accordance with the Biden administration’s skilled talent pool expansion goal.

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NIST Begins Market Research for CBRS Sharing Ecosystem Assessment Project Support
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NIST Begins Market Research for CBRS Sharing Ecosystem Assessment Project Support

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has started soliciting information on companies that can provide services in support of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service Sharing Ecosystem Assessment project.

The CBRS SEA project seeks to collect the necessary data to enable Defense Spectrum Organization decision-makers within the Defense Information Systems Agency to assess the effectiveness of the CBRS sharing ecosystem and whether it can co-exist with the Department of Defense’s radar systems, according to a sources sought notice published Monday.

The CBRS SEA project is anticipated to run for five years and will be composed of three phases with the initial phase focusing on test plan development, measurement system design and prototype development and evaluation.

Phase 2 will deal with sensor development and deployment, data analysis and coordinated experiments, while Phase 3 will focus on long-term data collection and analysis.

NIST said it will compete the contract for CBRS SEA support services as a set-aside program for small businesses if at least two small companies that can meet the requirement are identified during the market research phase.

Interested stakeholders should submit their capability statements through Nov. 17.

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