The U.S. Department of Defense is intensifying its collaboration with emerging commercial space startups. Senior officials, speaking on December 18th, highlighted the crucial role of these companies’ dual-use technologies in preserving American military superiority.
This increased engagement is fueled by China’s substantial investments in its own commercial space sector, raising concerns about a potential technological race between the world’s leading economies. Maj. Gen. Steven Butow, director of the Defense Innovation Unit’s space portfolio, noted during a SpaceNews webinar: “The commercial space market is very nascent. So you need a lot of investment.”
Butow stressed the significance of economic competition with China, beyond purely military aspects. He emphasized China's considerable investment in its commercial space sector, aiming for both financial returns and military applications.
To enhance collaboration, the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command has expanded its “Front Door” initiative. This acts as a vital connection point for commercial firms seeking government contracts. The program now encompasses over 20 government agencies, including NASA and the National Reconnaissance Office. Col. Richard Kniseley, head of the Commercial Space Office at Space Systems Command, stated: “We’ve even been asked by the international community to more or less franchise that so they can have their own Front Door.” He also addressed past criticisms of bureaucratic inefficiencies within the Pentagon, asserting that the program now boasts faster response times and improved direct communication.
One particularly promising technology is the development of orbital warehouses. SpaceWERX, an Air Force Research Laboratory initiative, recently awarded a $71 million contract to Inversion Space to develop this capability. Arthur Grijalva, director of SpaceWERX, explained that this technology could enable rapid supply delivery to strategically important areas, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
SpaceWERX manages an annual budget exceeding $400 million, sourced from the Small Business Innovation Research program and other funding streams. Grijalva revealed that the military is considering deploying as many as 30 of Inversion Space’s orbital warehouses, each capable of delivering cargo anywhere globally within 30 minutes using reusable reentry capsules.