Rapid Reconstitution of Space Capabilities

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking information to support technical solutions and operational concepts for the rapid reconstitution of space capabilities. The goal is to develop and deploy effective response mechanisms to rapidly restore critical services to minimum levels or higher, on tactical timelines of hours to weeks, in response to demand surge needs, lost assets resulting from potential adversaries' anti-satellite (ASAT) engagements, or orbital debris collisions. The agency is interested in solutions that can minimize spacecraft assembly, launch, and deployment time while maximizing the capabilities they provide. Some possible areas of interest include spacecraft modularity and scalability, plug-and-play components and interoperability, rapid satellite manufacturing and assembly, and reconfigurable/software-defined satellites. • Spacecraft modularity and scalability • Plug-and-play components and interoperability • Rapid satellite manufacturing and assembly • Reconfigurable/software-defined satellites • Multifunctional/multirole satellites • Radiation-hardened electronics and systems • Technologies for operation in very low earth orbit (VLEO) • Spacecraft survivability and resiliency • Bus and payload components and technologies enabling rapid reconstitution • Metamaterial electronically steered arrays • Cost-effective spacecraft to enable large-scale constellations • Operational concepts and strategies • Alternative PNT • Payload sensors • Coherently distributed apertures • Launch vehicle payload integration • Design considerations and relevant trade spaces for rapid and flexible production • Supply chain optimization for launch and space vehicle production • Bottlenecks impacting reconstitution of satellite busses, payloads, launch vehicles, and integration components • Priorities for reconstitution of space and launch vehicles (system type and quantity)