As more and more satellites circle the globe, ensuring antennas are available for critical Space Force actions such as correcting an orbit or receiving images is key.

Recently, Colorado Springs-based Auria received an $8.1 million contract to build a cloud-based prototype that will ensure either military or commercial ground-stations not currently used by the Space Force are available for those tasks. Auria was born out of Boecore, Ascension Engineering Group, Orbit Logic and La Jolla Logic. 

The prototype is meant to ensure antennas are available for use when the satellites pass overhead. Auria already supplies a similar product to NOAA and other customers.

A Government Accountability Office report in 2023 highlighted the need for the Space Force to add to its system of 19 global ground stations because they are aging and space traffic is increasing.

Relying on commercial ground stations can help handle the load from new satellites, and the new Joint Antenna Marketplace prototype that Auria is building will ensure the Space Force can pick the best providers and schedule the services at needed times, Auria President Tom Dickson said.

Another company, Sphinx Defense, won a $9.5 million contract to build a competing prototype. The competing companies have two years to deliver prototypes that could lead to additional work.

“We’ve assigned some key people to it because it is such an important contract for the company,” Dickson said.

The company was hiring 30 additional people at the beginning of the summer after receiving three large contracts. Half of those people will work in Colorado Springs, he said.

The two pilot-project awards are part of a broader effort to accelerate contracting through the Space Enterprise Consortium’s Other Transaction Authority.

The National Security Technology Accelerator is working for the consortium to help oversee the pilot projects and announced the contract awards. As part of its work, the accelerator works with small companies on meeting government standards for requirements around bookkeeping and cybersecurity. 

In its role the accelerator bridges the gap between smaller companies and the DOD to help diversify the companies receiving contracts.

“The way we see our role it’s all about increasing the size of the aperture through which the government can view emerging technology,” said Tim Greeff, president and founder of the accelerator.

While Greeff could not comment on why individual contractors were selected, he does see a need to better integrate the government’s space infrastructure with commercial offerings.  

“Broadly speaking there is a very recognized and real need to figure out how to integrate with the commercial sector,” Greeff said “… Or else we are going to fall way behind.”