EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- “The Space Domain Awareness TAP Lab is more than a successful science project. It’s a growing community inspired by a shared passion for a safe space domain.”
These were among the opening remarks shared by Maj. Travis Pond, program manager for the Space Domain Awareness Tools, Applications and Processing Lab (SDA TAP Lab), to kick off the Lab’s Apollo Accelerator Cohort 6 Demo Day on Apr. 29, 2025.
“Today you’ll see what is possible within a single budget cycle and without a program of record,” Pond said. “Imagine what we could do if we were fully funded!”
The SDA TAP Lab was stood up in May 2023 under SSC’s Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power Program Executive Office. Its mission is to accelerate the delivery of space battle management software to operational units through focused and facilitated collaboration with industry, academia, and government. Priority is given to five adversary kill chains: GEO direct ascent anti-satellites, GEO co-orbital anti-satellites, LEO direct ascent anti-satellites, LEO co-orbital anti-satellites, and cyber-attacks.
Through the Apollo Accelerator, the TAP Lab assembles cohorts comprised of volunteers from government, industry, academia, Federally Funded Research Corporations, and military service branches to work in three-month innovation cycles. Each cohort addresses specific, pre-determined “What if” statements with the ultimate aim of denying an adversary the advantage of surprise. Participants within each cohort are given access to a sandbox with data, services, a software development environment, and the ability to host apps. “What if” statements are broken down into individual engineering problem sets and worked on simultaneously.
“I think of it like a body shop,” said Maj. Sean Allen, SDA TAP Lab technical director. “You guys all show up and you say, ‘Major Allen, I can build you an engine block, some bucket seats, a radio, a windshield, the frame, a chassis’ - all of a sudden I’ve got all these parts and pieces playing about in our body shop and they need to be assembled into a system. What’s the right way to do that, and how quickly can you get there?”
In the case of Project Apollo, the answer is very quick. At the end of each three-month session, a demonstration day is held to promote government investment. If a participating company has met minimum expectations, there are no security concerns, and they have successfully demonstrated a prototype solution to an operational problem, then -- pending availability of funds and feedback from key stakeholders -- the SDA TAP Lab either buys a subscription to the prototype software through the Global Data Marketplace or advocates for investment from other parts of the government.
"To date, over 100 companies have developed solutions to close gaps in kill chains,” Allen said. “More than 75 software subscriptions have been awarded. Several capabilities have been deployed to classified platforms - and we are on track to showcase how it all works together in an automated way by the end of this calendar year."
April’s Demo Day showcased the work of the Apollo Accelerator’s 6th cohort, comprised of representatives from 81 organizations, companies, and academic institutions. Approximately 250 people attended the event, including representatives from U.S. Space Command and Space Operations Command.
In addition, Maj. Allen previewed Welder’s Arc, a prototype threat-warning system developed by Apollo Accelerator Cohorts 3, 4, 5 and 6. Welder’s Arc is a 100 percent commercial, multi-vendor solution with modular components. It is expected to support tactically responsive space efforts tentatively scheduled for this fall.
Welder’s Arc is just one example of the prototypes developed and delivered at unprecedented speed through the Apollo Accelerator. Pond gave particular thanks to the first five Apollo cohorts, noting “your willingness to move fast, take chances, and join us in this endeavor makes the space domain, and the world, safer for you and your families, the United States, and our allies.”
Joining an Apollo Accelerator is a non-competitive process, but applicants must meet minimum criteria and apply through the SDA TAP Lab website. They must clearly state which problem they intend to address and give a brief description of their intended solution. Additionally, applicants must acknowledge in writing that they understand participation is voluntary and at their own expense and be willing to collaborate with other lab members.
Applications for Cohort 7 are currently closed. Those interested in Cohort 8 may monitor the SDA TAP Lab website for application sign-up dates.