Scalable Wide-Field-of-View Electro-Optical Payloads for GEO Space Domain Awareness
SBIR Opportunity Analysis
The Department of the Air Force, through SBIR topic DAF26BX02-NV500, is seeking commercially derived wide-field-of-view electro-optical payload concepts to improve persistent space domain awareness in the geostationary belt. The work centers on a Phase I feasibility study and follow-on prototype path for autonomous wide-area GEO search, tasked collection on priority resident space objects, and integration of the payload with an ESPA-class spacecraft bus. Key technical considerations include SWaP-constrained optical and focal plane architectures, performance modeling against GEO backgrounds with 14.5 visual magnitude detection as the threshold and 16.0 as the objective, and environmental factors such as GEO thermal and radiation conditions; the topic is also restricted under ITAR/EAR. The opportunity is open, with applications due June 24, 2026 at 4:00 PM UTC.