LeoStella and BlackSky join SDA's Proliferated Low-Earth Orbit initiative
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 25, 2024
LeoStella has been chosen by the Space Development Agency (SDA) to contribute to the Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated Low-Earth Orbit (HALO) program. This initiative opens doors for nontraditional defense contractors to collaborate directly with SDA on rapid on-orbit mission feasibility prototypes. LeoStella, a small satellite manufacturer, will partner with BlackSky as a subcontractor to develop these mission prototypes. This selection pre-qualifies LeoStella to work closely with SDA in this capacity.

"This new, innovative program will be an integral tool for the Government to engage with industry. This award enables SDA to leverage nearly 60 years of successful on-orbit experience with a proven heritage across more than 20 satellites that deliver real-time space-based monitoring capabilities," explained Nick Merski, LeoStella Board Member and Chief Operating Officer at BlackSky. "We appreciate SDA's innovative approach to acquisition problem solving. This contract enables users to combine industry innovation and apply it to current and future SDA mission needs on mission-ready timelines."

"SDA is proud to welcome 19 vendors into the first-ever HALO pool," said SDA Director Derek Tournear. "This creative award solution enables SDA to quickly compete, build, and fly demonstration missions to burn down risk for the future of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. We also hope, through the HALO pool, to build a broader base of vendors that can compete for work on operational layers of future tranches."

LeoStella's approach centers on developing flexible and scalable satellite solutions, ensuring these designs can be efficiently produced at scale. As part of the HALO program, and with SDA's vision, companies can rapidly develop, test, and deploy small satellite capabilities. Since its inception in 2018, LeoStella has delivered 23 satellites, 19 of which are currently operating in LEO. These satellites have demonstrated excellent performance, consistently delivering customer data with over 99 percent uptime. With this award, LeoStella and BlackSky are now positioned to compete for SDA's Tranche 3 opportunities.

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