Summary: SpaceWERX In-Domain Orbital Logistics Challenge to accelerate operational logistics across orbital regimes. A mature space logistics network strengthens resilience and lethality by extending platform life, enabling maneuver on demand, and reducing predictability to threats. Building depots, transfer vehicles, and validated fuel handling will enable U.S. forces to project and regenerate power in space with confidence.
U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) in partnership with SpaceWERX is preparing to launch the SpaceWERX In-Domain Orbital Logistics Challenge to discover and advance commercial industry solutions for delivering assured, repeatable resupply and maintenance across LEO and GEO orbits and beyond. Orbital warehousing, propellant distribution, orbital transfer vehicles, precision metering and inspection, and novel orbital network mechanics for assured resupply and maneuver will be among innovations sought for funding.
“The evolving strategic environment in space is driving the need for an in-domain logistics capability that delivers bulk and retail propellant, spares, inspection, and repair at forward orbital nodes to support in-space maneuver warfare,” said Col Scott Carstetter, director of Servicing, Mobility, and Logistics within SSC’s Space Access portfolio. “The future development and implementation of depots, transfer vehicles, and validated fuel handling standards will enable responsiveness and decrease predictability and risk as we move to develop a theater-like logistics network in space.”
The Challenge will focus on key mission areas including:
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Orbital Warehousing: Large, environmentally protected depots that perform reception, staging, repackaging, storage, inspection, and shipping. Emphasize robotics, in-space assembly, and autonomous ground-to-space logistics integration.
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Orbital Transfer Vehicles: Reusable, refuelable OTVs that load propellants and supplies from depots, deliver propellants, then return for subsequent sorties.
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Distribution Network Mechanics: Novel orbital mechanics for depot placement and shuttle routes that are easy to reach for authorized logistics yet difficult for opportunistic interception.
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Propellant Management: End-to-end plans for sourcing and manufacturing propellant from Earth or space resources, propulsion compatibility and cycle life, tank and interface refuelability, long-term storage stability, boil-off and degradation control, toxicity management, metering accuracy, transfer accounting, and purity verification on both sides of the transfer.
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Reusability, Repairability, and Refuelability: Architectures for reusable launch to LEO tanker operations, OTV bulk transfer, retail shuttle servicing, spares and repair concepts, and an integrated total cost of ownership model. Align with theater logistics concepts and depot operations.
The Challenge will operate as a multi-phase open call with concept papers, down-select to design sprints, and tabletop exercises, followed by prototyping and limited flight demonstrations where feasible, as well as industry workshops with USSF operators and logisticians.
USSF organizations including Air Force Research Lab, Combat Forces Command, U.S. Space Command, DLA Energy, U.S. Transportation Command, and the Defense Innovation Unit will join SSC, SpaceWERX, and industry partners to meet the Challenge. Target participants include startups, small businesses, primes, academia, and research labs with capabilities in in-space servicing, propulsion, orbital mechanics, robotics, autonomy, metrology, materials and cryogenics, ground-to-space logistics, and mission analysis.
A call-out is expected to be announced this summer including specifications to ensure potential partners understand U.S. Space Force requirements for accelerating operational logistics across orbital regimes. Selected teams will collaborate with the U.S. Space Force to mature concepts and prototypes that enable sustained maneuver and mission longevity.
“Through this Challenge we will be targeting the discovery of end-to-end architectures that enable sustained space operations, align with the In-Domain Logistics enterprise vision, and deliver measurable improvements to operational reach, endurance, and freedom of action,” said Jondavid DuVall, Space Logistics officer for Space Systems Command. “SpaceWERX seeks to fund practical, scalable logistics solutions that bring depot-level storage, transfer, and inspection to orbit.”
The SpaceWERX In-Domain Orbital Logistics Challenge builds on current on-orbit Servicing, Mobility, and Logistics lines of effort as well as learnings from depot contracting and distribution loop concepts, prior refueling demonstrations, and depot concepts that have informed networked distribution and cost models.
Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities to outpace emerging threats and protect our Nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space. SSC manages a $15.6 billion annual space acquisition budget for the Department of War, working with joint forces, industry partners, government agencies, academia, and allied nations. For more information, visit ssc.spaceforce.mil and follow @USSF-SSC on LinkedIn.
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