Rogue Space Systems Secures $1M SBIR Phase II Award to Enhance Space Domain Awareness

Rogue Space Systems Corporation has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant by SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force. This award, valued at over $1 million, focuses on enhancing Space Domain Awareness (SDA) through the development of Autonomous Multi-spectral Resident-Space-Object Identification and Characterization (SAMRIC) technology. The project aims to ensure the safe and sustainable execution of In-Space Servicing and Manufacturing (ISAM) operations.

With more than 5,000 operational satellites currently in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) and projections suggesting tens of thousands more by 2030, Earth's orbits are becoming increasingly congested. The precise location, characteristics, and capabilities of space objects are critical for providing safe and effective logistics services. As governments and businesses plan to deploy expansive new space systems, SDA data will be vital for the safety and security of all space objects.

"The ability to autonomously detect and identify RSO's in situ will greatly expand awareness of the local neighborhood, increasing safety and enabling more efficient ISAM activities," noted Michael Pica, Rogue's Chief Technology and Innovation Officer. Rogue's SAMRIC technology will leverage available sensors in orbit to improve tracking accuracy and characterize space objects. Using in-situ observations, SAMRIC will classify and identify characteristics and infer capabilities of space objects, providing key insights into their identity, trajectory, and functionalities.

This elevated situational awareness will play a crucial role in major global space initiatives such as space traffic management and the verification of strategic obligations. Rogue's efforts will contribute to protecting U.S. and allied interests in orbit. "Being able to make real-time use of multiple types of sensors in orbit to complement both local and global SDA databases enables Rogue to be a citizen-contributor to the space ecosystem to grow the safety and sustainability of space," said Jon Beam, Rogue's Chief Executive Officer.

For Rogue, SAMRIC represents another step in their technology roadmap, bringing them closer to building a fleet of Orbots™ enabled by in-situ orbital determination and client characterization. This will facilitate in-space logistics services, made safer and more effective by their perceptual/autonomy system.

This award exemplifies the success of the SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) initiatives. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the SBIR/STTR process by accelerating the experience from proposal to award. Rogue's progress is a testament to the effectiveness of this approach, which began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 to expand the range of innovations funded by the Department of the Air Force.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.