Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS)
ID: SF25D-T1201Type: BOTH
Overview

Topic

Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS)

Agency

Agency: DODBranch: USAF

Program

Type: STTRPhase: BOTH

Topic Link

https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/

Additional Information

https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/
Timeline
    Description

    The United States Space Force (USSF) is seeking innovative solutions through the Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge to enhance autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This initiative focuses on early-stage research in Phase I to explore the technical and operational feasibility of emerging space concepts and dual-use technologies for coordinated satellite operations across various orbital environments, specifically targeting areas such as Edge Computing & Algorithms, Sensor Payloads, and Bus Design. The importance of this procurement lies in its potential to improve space control, battle management, and space domain awareness capabilities under contested conditions, thereby contributing to national security and technological innovation. Proposals are due by January 28, 2026, with the Phase I Showcase serving as the basis for Phase II selection, and interested parties can find more information at the official solicitation website.

    Files
    Title
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    1762382892513.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) is seeking innovative solutions for its Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge, focusing on autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This initiative, led by Task Force Futures and SpaceWERX, invites proposals for early-stage research in Phase I. The goal is to explore emerging space concepts and dual-use technologies for coordinated satellite operations across various orbital environments, including LEO, GEO, XGEO, and cislunar space. Key objectives for Phase I include investigating novel concepts for enhanced autonomy and survivability, assessing edge intelligence and autonomous decision-making in contested conditions, analyzing modular systems for evolving missions, and developing preliminary Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) aligned with USSF needs. Proposals should focus on technical feasibility, research methods, and collaboration with research institutions, laying the groundwork for potential Phase II prototype demonstrations. This effort is restricted under ITAR/EAR regulations, requiring disclosure of foreign national involvement.
    1762387308194.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) is seeking innovative solutions for its Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge, aiming to advance autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This initiative, led by Task Force Futures in partnership with SpaceWERX, focuses on emerging space concepts and dual-use technologies for coordinated satellite operations across various orbital environments. Phase I emphasizes early-stage research, including modeling, simulation, and literature reviews, to assess the technical and operational feasibility of novel concepts. Key focus areas include onboard edge intelligence, predictive threat analytics, modular sensor payloads, and adaptable spacecraft bus designs. Proposals must define Phase I scope, research methods, and collaboration plans with research institutions, laying groundwork for potential Phase II prototype demonstrations. This project aims to enhance space control, battle management, and domain awareness in contested or degraded conditions, with a mandatory AIS Phase I Showcase serving as the basis for Phase II selection.
    1762560123230.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) seeks innovative solutions for autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations through the Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge. This initiative, a strategic partnership between Task Force Futures and SpaceWERX, invites proposals for early-stage research in Phase I. The goal is to explore emerging space concepts and dual-use technologies for coordinated satellite operations across various orbits (LEO, GEO, XGEO, and cislunar). Key objectives include enhancing autonomy, survivability, and responsiveness in contested space environments, assessing onboard edge intelligence, analyzing modular systems, and developing preliminary Concepts of Operations (CONOPS). Focus areas include Edge Computing & Algorithms, Sensor Payloads, and Bus Design. Phase I requires collaboration with a research institution, emphasizing feasibility studies, modeling, simulation, and literature reviews. Deliverables include a feasibility assessment, initial CONOPS, and a proposed Phase II plan, with a critical AIS Phase I Showcase serving as the basis for Phase II selection. Phase II will focus on prototype development, and Phase III aims for technology transition into operational use and commercial markets.
    1762646519751.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) seeks innovative solutions through the Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge to advance autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This initiative, part of federal government RFPs, focuses on early-stage research in Phase I to explore concepts for coordinated satellite operations across various orbital environments (LEO, GEO, XGEO, cislunar). Key objectives include enhancing autonomy, survivability, and responsiveness in contested space, assessing onboard edge intelligence, analyzing modular systems, and developing preliminary Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) aligned with USSF missions. Proposals should detail research methods and collaborations with research institutions, laying groundwork for potential Phase II prototypes. The project addresses gaps in managing space assets under degraded communication conditions, with specific focus areas being Edge Computing & Algorithms, Sensor Payloads, and Bus Design. Phase I culminates in an AIS Phase I Showcase, which serves as the Phase II proposal submission.
    1762819318693.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) seeks innovative solutions through the Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge, focusing on autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations across various orbital environments. Phase I emphasizes early-stage research, including modeling, simulation, and literature reviews, to assess the technical and operational feasibility of novel concepts. Key objectives include exploring enhanced autonomy in adversarial environments, evaluating onboard edge intelligence, analyzing modular systems, and developing preliminary Concepts of Operations (CONOPS). Proposals should collaborate with research institutions and define a clear Phase I scope. The challenge targets foundational gaps in managing space assets under contested conditions, with focus areas on Edge Computing & Algorithms, Sensor Payloads, and Bus Design. Phase I culminates in an AIS Phase I Showcase, which also serves as the Phase II proposal submission, focusing on prototype development. Phase III aims at transitioning these technologies into operational use and commercial markets.
    1762905705328.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) is seeking innovative solutions for its Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge, focusing on autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This initiative, led by Task Force Futures and SpaceWERX, invites proposals for early-stage research in Phase I to explore technical and operational feasibility of emerging space concepts and dual-use technologies across various orbital environments. Key objectives include enhancing autonomy, survivability, and responsiveness in contested space, assessing onboard edge intelligence, and analyzing modular systems for evolving missions. Phase I efforts should focus on feasibility studies, initial Concept of Operations (CONOPS) development, and foundational research within three focus areas: Edge Computing & Algorithms, Sensor Payloads, and Bus Design. A critical deliverable is documentation for the AIS Phase I Showcase, which will serve as the Phase II proposal submission. Phase II will involve prototype development, while Phase III focuses on commercialization and transition to operational use.
    1762992134073.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) is seeking innovative solutions for its Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge, focusing on autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This initiative, led by Task Force Futures and SpaceWERX, invites proposals for early-stage research in Phase I. The goal is to explore technical and operational feasibility of emerging space concepts and dual-use technologies for coordinated satellite operations across various orbital environments. Key objectives include enhancing autonomy, survivability, and responsiveness in contested space, assessing onboard edge intelligence, and developing modular systems. Proposals should focus on Edge Computing & Algorithms, Sensor Payloads, and Bus Design, emphasizing collaboration with research institutions. Phase I deliverables include a feasibility study, an initial Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and documentation for the AIS Phase I Showcase, which will serve as the Phase II proposal. The technology is restricted under ITAR/EAR, requiring disclosure of foreign nationals. Phase II will involve prototype development, and Phase III will focus on commercialization and transition to operational use within the Department of the Air Force and commercial markets.
    1763078529284.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) seeks innovative solutions through the Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge to advance autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This initiative, part of federal government RFPs, focuses on early-stage research in Phase I to explore concepts for coordinated satellite operations across various orbital environments. Key objectives include enhancing autonomy, survivability, and responsiveness in contested space, assessing onboard edge intelligence, analyzing modular systems, and developing preliminary Concepts of Operations (CONOPS). Proposals should focus on technical feasibility, research methods, and collaboration with research institutions, laying the groundwork for future prototype demonstrations in Phase II. The program emphasizes Edge Computing & Algorithms, Sensor Payloads, and Bus Design to improve space control, battle management, and space domain awareness, with Phase III focusing on commercialization and transition to operational use.
    1763164917934.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) seeks innovative solutions for its Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge, focusing on autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This initiative, part of the Futures Series led by Task Force Futures and SpaceWERX, invites proposals for emerging space concepts and dual-use technologies to support coordinated satellite operations across various orbital environments. Phase I emphasizes early-stage research, including modeling, simulation, and literature reviews, to assess technical and operational feasibility. Key objectives include exploring novel architectures for enhanced autonomy in adversarial environments, evaluating onboard edge intelligence for decision-making under limited bandwidth, and analyzing modular systems for adaptability. The challenge focuses on three core areas: Edge Computing & Algorithms for autonomous decision-making and data processing; Sensor Payloads for multi-modal detection and threat characterization; and Bus Design for modularity, maneuverability, and mission flexibility. Proposals must detail Phase I research plans, including collaboration with research institutions, and define preliminary Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) aligned with USSF needs. The Phase I Showcase will serve as the basis for Phase II selection, which will involve prototype development and demonstration. The technology is subject to ITAR/EAR regulations, requiring disclosure of foreign national involvement.
    1763337716939.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) is launching the Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge, a strategic initiative to advance autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This program, outlined in SF25D-T1201, seeks innovative solutions for coordinated satellite operations across various orbital environments, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Geostationary Orbit (GEO), eXtended GEO (XGEO), and cislunar space. The challenge is structured into three phases, with Phase I focusing on early-stage research, modeling, and feasibility studies in collaboration with research institutions. Key areas of investigation include Edge Computing & Algorithms for autonomous decision-making, modular Sensor Payloads for multi-modal detection, and adaptable Bus Design for mission flexibility and extended lifecycles. Phase II will involve prototype development and demonstrations, while Phase III aims for the transition of technologies into operational use and commercial markets. Proposals must address technical feasibility and include an initial Concept of Operations (CONOPS) aligned with future USSF mission needs. The program emphasizes the importance of Space Domain Awareness (SDA), Space Control (SC), and Space Battle Management (SBM) through advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, passive RF, LIDAR, and radar detection. The project is restricted under ITAR/EAR, requiring disclosure of foreign national involvement.
    1763510525980.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) is seeking innovative solutions for its Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge, focusing on autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This initiative, led by Task Force Futures in partnership with SpaceWERX, invites proposals for early-stage research in Phase I. The research should explore the technical and operational feasibility of emerging space concepts and dual-use technologies for coordinated satellite operations across various orbital environments. Key objectives include enhancing autonomy, survivability, and responsiveness in contested space, assessing onboard edge intelligence, and developing modular systems. Phase I proposals should define research methods, collaboration plans with research institutions, and articulate how the work informs future prototype demonstrations. The challenge emphasizes three focus areas: Edge Computing & Algorithms, Sensor Payloads, and Bus Design. The technology within this topic is restricted under ITAR/EAR. A crucial aspect of Phase I is a showcase event, which will serve as the basis for Phase II selection.
    1763769715846.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) is seeking innovative solutions through the Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge to enhance autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This initiative, led by Task Force Futures and SpaceWERX, invites proposals for emerging space concepts and dual-use technologies supporting coordinated satellite operations across various orbital environments. Phase I focuses on early-stage research, including literature reviews, modeling, simulation, and trade analyses, to establish groundwork for potential prototype development in Phase II. Key objectives include exploring novel architectures for autonomy in adversarial environments, assessing onboard edge intelligence feasibility, analyzing modular systems, and developing preliminary Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) aligned with USSF needs. Proposals should detail research methods and collaboration plans with research institutions, briefly outlining future Phase II potential. The technology is restricted under ITAR/EAR, requiring disclosure of foreign national involvement. Phase I deliverables culminate in an AIS Phase I Showcase, serving as the Phase II proposal submission.
    1764968594571.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) seeks innovative solutions for its Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge, focusing on autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This initiative, part of the Futures Series led by Task Force Futures and SpaceWERX, invites proposals for emerging space concepts and dual-use technologies to support coordinated satellite operations across various orbital environments, including LEO, GEO, XGEO, and cislunar space. Phase I emphasizes early-stage research, including modeling, simulation, and trade-space analyses, to validate feasibility and refine mission alignment for future prototype development. Key objectives include exploring novel architectures for autonomy and survivability, assessing onboard edge intelligence, analyzing modular systems, and developing preliminary Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) aligned with USSF needs. Proposals must define Phase I scope, research methods, and collaboration plans with research institutions. The technology is restricted under ITAR/EAR, requiring disclosure of foreign nationals. Phase I deliverables include an initial report, feasibility assessment, initial CONOPS, and documentation for the AIS Phase I Showcase, which serves as the basis for Phase II selection. Phase II focuses on prototype development based on Phase I studies, addressing challenges in Edge Computing & Algorithms, Sensor Payloads, and Bus Design. Phase III aims for commercialization and transition into operational use, leveraging non-SBIR/STTR funding and exploring additional Department of the Air Force opportunities.
    1765670559473.pdf
    The United States Space Force (USSF) is seeking innovative solutions through the Adaptive and Intelligent Space (AIS) Challenge to enhance autonomous, resilient, and intelligent space operations. This initiative, part of federal government RFPs, focuses on early-stage research in Phase I to explore technical and operational feasibility of emerging space concepts and dual-use technologies for coordinated satellite operations across various orbital environments. Key objectives include developing novel concepts for enhanced autonomy, survivability, and responsiveness in adversarial space, assessing onboard edge intelligence and autonomous decision-making, analyzing modular systems for adaptability, and developing preliminary Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) aligned with USSF needs. Proposals should focus on three areas: Edge Computing & Algorithms, Sensor Payloads, and Bus Design, with a mandatory collaboration with a research institution. Phase I deliverables include a feasibility study, initial CONOPS, and a Phase II development plan, culminating in an AIS Phase I Showcase, which serves as the Phase II proposal submission. Phase II will focus on prototype development, while Phase III aims for technology transition into operational use and commercial markets. The project emphasizes national security, economic growth, and technological innovation.
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