Four tactically responsive space companies are participating in the next iteration of the Aerospace Corporation’s TRL Bootcamp, which kicked off this month.
Tactically responsive space—or the ability to quickly respond to threats in orbit—is a top priority for DoD. The department has offices funding several demo missions aimed at launching payloads and maneuvering in orbit on short notice.
Brian Bone, the principal director of the Commercial Space Futures Office at The Aerospace Corporation, declined to name the four companies participating in this class of the bootcamp. He did, however, say they focus on tech ranging from high-res imaging, mission planning, non-Earth imaging, and carrying and dispensing small sats in orbit (not unlike how an aircraft carrier operates at sea).
Bootcamp 101: The Aerospace Corporation established its TRL Bootcamp last year, in partnership with SpaceWERX, to offer additional guidance to companies working on emerging tech that’s of interest to DoD. Joining the program gives companies access to consulting assistance and lab access for three to four months. Officials then offer a readiness-level assessment at the end. The bootcamp is intended to provide companies—whose tech is less mature—a helping hand across the Valley of Death.
The organization wrapped up its first cohort of bootcamp participants, which focused on ISAM, on April 4, but is already seeing early success. Four of the seven companies that participated received some type of follow-on funding from DoD, Bone told Payload.
The Aerospace Corporation plans to track ISAM bootcamp participants to evaluate whether DOD’s funding is viewed by investors as a vote of confidence—and is driving more private funds into participating companies as a result, Bone said.
What’s next: SpaceWERX selects the subjects for each bootcamp. Future iterations will focus on areas including:
- Alternative PNT
- Space-based environmental monitoring
- Maneuverability in orbit
- VLEO
