SpaceWERX selects 11 firms to scale technologies for military space


Skip to content

Home / SpaceWERX selects 11 firms to scale technologies for military space

SpaceWERX Director Arthur Grijalva announced the winners of 2026 STRATFI agreements Aug. 20 at the Fed Supernova conference in Austin, Texas. Credit: SpaceWERX

WASHINGTON — SpaceWERX, the Space Force’s innovation arm, selected 11 companies for a new round of public-private funding agreements aimed at moving space technologies from prototypes toward operational use.

The 11 agreements are expected to draw a combined $562.5 million from government organizations and private investors. SpaceWERX said about $245 million is government funding; the balance includes anticipated private investment and other matching funds.

SpaceWERX announced the Strategic Funding Increase, or STRATFI, selections Aug. 20 at the Fed Supernova conference in Austin, Texas. The companies are Agile Space Industries, Antares Nuclear, EO Solutions, Hydrosat, Kall Morris, Method Security, Muon Space, Scout Space, Sedaro, Star Catcher Industries and ThinkOrbital.

SpaceWERX did not provide details of the individual projects. STRATFI agreements can be worth up to $60 million per company, typically split between government and private funding. SpaceWERX can provide up to $15 million in SBIR funds, supplemented by money from military customers and matching private investment.

The selections are not yet finalized contract awards. The companies will now work with SpaceWERX and Space Force organizations to negotiate agreements, establish milestones and demonstrate that their technologies can meet military requirements.

“STRATFI is a critical tool for the Space Force to signal demand to industry and private investors,” SpaceWERX Director Arthur Grijalva said in a statement.

The program is available to companies performing under, or recently completing, a Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer project.

Unlike a conventional early-stage SBIR award, STRATFI requires other organizations to put money behind the project, in addition to third-party investors. The structure is intended to force closer alignment among the startup, an operational customer and outside capital before the government commits to buying a capability at larger scale.

• ▸Agile Space Industries develops chemical propulsion systems and thrusters for spacecraft, including high-thrust systems intended to give satellites greater ability to maneuver and rapidly change orbits.
• ▸Antares Nuclear is developing factory-produced nuclear microreactors for defense and commercial customers and has previously received Air Force funding to adapt its reactor technology for space applications.
• ▸EO Solutions develops space-domain-awareness sensors, directed-energy technologies and optical systems. An earlier Space Development Agency Phase 2 award supported its work on portable laser communications ground stations.
• ▸Hydrosat operates satellites equipped with thermal-infrared sensors that can detect temperature signatures and changes on the ground, a capability it markets for agriculture and water management as well as defense and intelligence applications.
• ▸KMI Space is developing spacecraft and robotic systems for orbital logistics and debris removal, designed to rendezvous with and maneuver satellites or other objects that were not originally built to be serviced.
• ▸Method Security builds cybersecurity software for government and other critical systems. Its previous Space Force Phase 2 project focused on adapting its platform to continuously monitor space-related cyber infrastructure.
• ▸Muon Space designs, builds and operates satellite constellations for commercial and defense customers, and is working with the Air Force and Space Force on space-based environmental monitoring.
• ▸Scout Space develops spacecraft-mounted optical sensors, onboard processing and autonomous software intended to help satellites detect and characterize other objects in orbit.
• ▸Sedaro provides digital engineering and simulation software used to create high-fidelity models and digital twins of satellites and other military systems.
• ▸Star Catcher Industries is developing an orbital energy network that would use optical power beaming to send additional energy to satellites in space.
• ▸ThinkOrbital is developing technologies for inspecting, servicing and constructing spacecraft in orbit, including robotic welding tools and an X-ray system intended to provide detailed information about satellites and other objects.

_Related_


Sandra Erwin

Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA’s National Defense... More by Sandra Erwin

Sign in or register

Close

Continue with Google

Or

Enter the code sent to your email

Email address

Enter your password

Sign in by entering the code we sent to , or clicking the magic link in the email.

ContinueResend codeEmail me a one-time code instead Forgot password Go back

Continue Set a password (optional)

We'll send a verification code to %EMAIL%.

Send code
Skip for now

To continue reading this article:

Register now to get

2 more free articles this month.

You’ll also receive our weekly Editor’s Choice, SpaceNews This Week and Opinions newsletters. Opt-out at any time.

Sign up

Sign in to an existing account

Get unlimited access to SpaceNews.com, the SpaceNews app and our digital monthly magazine for less than $5 per week.

$250/year

Subscribe now

_Cancel anytime. Sales tax may apply. No refunds._ _Terms and conditions apply._

See all subscription options

Link
Copy link

Digital All-Access Subscription (Monthly) $25.00 / monthDigital All-Access Subscription (Quarterly) $70.00 every 3 monthsDigital All-Access Subscription (Yearly) $250 / yearDigital All-Access Subscription (2 Years) $450 every 2 yearsPurchase
Sign in to an existing account Cancel