WASHINGTON — Gravitics, a startup growing modules for business area stations, will use its applied sciences for tactically responsive area functions for the U.S. Area Power.
The corporate introduced April 25 it gained a $1.7 million Small Enterprise Innovation Analysis (SBIR) contract from SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the Area Power. The contract, a “direct to part 2” SBIR award, is in partnership with Area Programs Command’s Area Safari Program Workplace.
Gravitics, based mostly close to Seattle, is growing modules to be used on future business area stations. One idea, known as StarMax, is a cylindrical module with an aluminum full 7.6 meters in diameter and provides 400 cubic meters of quantity, about 40% of the amount of all the Worldwide Area Station.
The corporate mentioned it should apply these applied sciences for tactically responsive area, or TacRS, functions. “Gravitics’ business area station modules can help a variety of navy and civilian functions, together with in-space fast response functions,” the corporate mentioned in a press release in regards to the SBIR award.
“We’re taking a look at all choices to satisfy the mission on tactically related timelines. The Gravitics area station module provides an unconventional and doubtlessly game-changing answer for TacRS,” mentioned Lt. Col. Jason Altenhofen, director of operations for Area Safari, part of Area Programs Command main work on tactically responsive area functions, within the assertion.
The corporate didn’t elaborate on the precise work will probably be doing underneath the SBIR or how its module applied sciences could be used for tactically responsive area. A supply conversant in the trouble mentioned that the award coated work on architectures, necessities and preliminary {hardware} growth.
SpaceWERX organized a TacRS Area Problem final yr to hunt ideas from business in area and floor programs to help tactically responsive area. Altenhofen mentioned final fall that the problem was meant to “ship a requirement sign” to business about tactically responsive area, providing SBIR awards and alternatives for future work.
Gravitics mentioned it’s working with Rocket Lab, True Anomaly, Area Exploration Engineering and Eta Area on its contract. Rocket Lab and True Anomaly gained Area Power contracts April 11 to develop the Victus Haze tactically responsive area mission. Area Exploration Engineering does work within the design, planning and operations of area missions. Eta Area is growing cryogenic fluid applied sciences and has a NASA contract to carry out a flight check of a liquid oxygen fluid administration system.
The corporate says the Area Power contract doesn’t symbolize a change in route. “Creating and manufacturing business area station modules will proceed to be on the core of our firm mission,” Colin Doughan, chief govt of Gravitics, mentioned in a press release. “Gravitics is thrilled to have the chance to supply these business capabilities to the Division of Protection.”
