Here are the key points from the commercial solicitation document:
- The U.S. Department of Defense is seeking commercial solutions to prototype and demonstrate end-to-end Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) capabilities.
- The goal is to show the ability to rapidly launch a spacecraft within 24 hours of notice, conduct rendezvous and proximity operations with another object in space, and inspect and characterize potential threats on an urgent timeline.
- This is being led by the Space Systems Command’s Space Safari office in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).
- They are looking for mature commercial technologies that can demonstrate TacRS objectives within 12-18 months. Desired capabilities include rapid launch, orbital maneuvering, proximity operations, threat characterization within 48 hours, and scalability.
- The demonstration will occur in phases – a Build Phase, Hot Standby Phase, Activation Phase, Alert Phase, Launch Phase, and On-Orbit Operations Phase.
- Companies should propose solutions that minimize the activation and launch timelines, are operationally autonomous, prevent debris, use trusted supply chains, are commercially viable independent of government use, and have flight heritage.
- The solicitation aims to leverage commercial solutions to further mature TacRS concepts and reduce response timelines compared to previous efforts. It expands participation to more commercial space providers.
- Interested companies can submit a Solution Brief to DIU in response to this solicitation by September 7, 2023.