On June 13th, 2024, The Catalyst Accelerator team hosted a highly
successful on-site demonstration day at Catalyst Campus for
Technology and Innovation (CCTI). The event attracted over 115
attendees eager to meet the seven Space Domain Awareness (SDA)
cohort companies and gain insight into their cutting-edge, dual-use
technology solutions. In attendance were Air Force, Space Force,
and other Government personnel. Additionally, industry leaders,
investors, and those curious about where the U.S. is heading with
SDA capabilities were in attendance as well.
The SDA cohort marked the 13th Accelerator facilitated by CCTI.
The Catalyst Accelerator team was thrilled to welcome several new
sponsors into their support network to include Maxar Intelligence,
who was the proud sponsor of the second session of the Accelerator,
as well as Leonid, Delta Solutions & Strategies, and 5 Star
Bank, who all served generously as event sponsors. The problem
statement for this cohort was focused on how the United States
Space Force can introduce commercial capabilities to its mission
environment for Space Domain Awareness. The cohort companies were
chosen for their technology and business readiness from a pool of
over 25 applicants and began their Accelerator experience on March
19th, 2024. Raul Diaz, one of the Catalyst Accelerator Government
Navigators, had the pleasure of working with the seven companies
closely throughout the program, offering his extensive government
experience. He shared, “I was so happy to be involved with the SDA
Cohort. Great interaction with all the companies. Such innovation.
Great leadership and support from the government and Catalyst
Campus team as well. Everyone working together is what it's all
about!”
Over the course of the Accelerator, the companies were guided by
the following subject matter experts: Government Navigators and
end-users, enabling them to better understand government space
needs; business experts, helping them pivot their technology and
corporate posture to position themselves well in the government
market; and Commercial Navigators (General Dynamics, Scout Space,
Kratos, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Freedom Space, American
Systems, Colsa and Red Shred), helping them step into the
government arena with advice, consulting, and key contact
introductions within the government and commercial
sectors.
Demo Day marked the culmination of the SDA Accelerator,
showcasing the cohort’s dedication, the evolution of their
technology, and the adaptation of their business model to align
with the U.S. Space Force's needs. Their innovative capabilities
have the potential to revolutionize this industry, offering
enhanced competencies and efficiency. Moreover, the outstanding
messages from the keynote speakers, Col Deborah Van Caster,
Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Space Delta 2
Commander, and Maj Sean Allen, Chief of the Space Domain Awareness
Tools Applications and Processing Lab (SDA TAP Lab), allowed
participants to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of
using commercial data to strengthen the awareness of the space
environment. Overall, the event provided an invaluable opportunity
for attendees to network, engage with the cohort companies, and
explore potential collaborations.
The Cyber Navigator for this cohort, Ernest Campos, Account
Executive Space Programs at American Systems, expressed, “The
#CASDA2 Demo Day was an incredible event, and American Systems was
honored to have been an integral part of the entire cohort
experience. The businesses who participated in the program
demonstrated incredible growth both from a business posture as well
as the development of their marketable capabilities. The United
States Space Force and our nation at large will be safer and more
secure as a result of companies like these who have completed the
program.”
For more information about the Catalyst Accelerator and its SDA
cohort, please
visit https://catalystaccelerator.space/cohort_page/space-domain-awareness/.
Cohort companies included:
Active Vigilance (Cheyenne, Wyoming) At
Active Vigilance, we are spearheading the deployment of onboard
artificial intelligence and machine learning for aerospace
applications. Our vision is a safer world where space assets
survive through events no one could have predicted, limiting the
effects of hostile action, and maintaining deterrence. Active
Vigilance provides the most efficient and trustworthy machine
learning, enabling human-on-the loop control of autonomous space
assets. Active Vigilance has developed machine learning which needs
minimal training data and collaborates with human oversight to
ensure mission goals are met. With flexible hardware
implementations including in space and on the ground, Active
Vigilance offers a new resilience for in-space and other
high-value, complex assets.
https://activevigilance.com
Astra Ultra (Littleton, Colorado) Astra
Ultra is revolutionizing space domain awareness with our
cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology. Our AI systems
provide unparalleled accuracy in tracking and predicting orbital
patterns, ensuring enhanced safety and strategic planning for
satellite operations. By integrating advanced machine learning
algorithms, Astra Ultra offers real-time data analysis and
decision-making capabilities, ensuring continued mission capability
and success. Our commitment to innovation positions Astra Ultra as
a pivotal player in shaping the future of space domain
awareness.
https://astra-ultra.ai
The Exclosure (San Francisco,
California) Exclosure stands at the forefront
of space situational awareness, revolutionizing the field with our
global network of AI/ML-enhanced observatories. Compact yet
powerful, our observatories deliver unprecedented revisit rates for
analyzing orbital and atmospheric objects. We blend cutting-edge
artificial intelligence with advanced data processing to offer
real-time insights, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in
space observation and security. Exclosure seeks to provide not just
space domain awareness, but space domain empowerment.
https://www.exclosure.io
iMETALX Inc. (Sausalito,
California) iMETALX is at the forefront of space technology,
offering cutting-edge observation and surveillance services.
Utilizing sophisticated sensors and algorithms, the company excels
in identifying, tracking, and analyzing satellites and debris
across low earth orbit and beyond. Essential for maintaining space
situational awareness, iMETALX's services safeguard the
functionality and safety of space assets through comprehensive
imagery and data, while also facilitating effective operations for
in-space services.
https://www.imetalx.com
Orbital Services Corporation LLC
(OSCorp) (Colorado Springs, Colorado) OSCorp is an
in-space services company at the vanguard of cementing U.S. space
supremacy to safeguard the space domain and build a thriving
in-space economy. We develop cutting-edge technologies at the nexus
of GN&C, AI/ML, LiDAR sensors, space robotics, and lasercom
terminals–the building blocks that would enable safe and robust ADR
involving RPOC of uncooperative spacecraft.
https://www.orbitalservicescorporation.com
Quasar Satellite Technologies (Sydney,
Australia) Quasar has developed a state-of-the-art, fully
digital multibeam phased array antenna, capable of simultaneously
delivering SDA & SATCOM from a single aperture, marking a
revolutionary advancement in All-Sky visibility.
https://quasarsat.com
TRL 11 Inc. (Irvine, California) TRL11 is
advancing the development and utilization of full motion video for
spacecraft operations and space security. The company is building
cameras and recording systems emphasizing real-time and low power
video feeds from space. Central to TRL11’s innovative approach is
its proprietary AI/ML video processing software which employs a
novel compression technique and downlinks only the valuable content
in a recording to streamline insights for ground operators while
minimizing bandwidth costs.
https://www.trl11.com
About Catalyst Accelerator
The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate and
United States Space Force’s Catalyst Accelerator is a
NewSpace-focused defense and national security industry
accelerator, headquartered on the Catalyst Campus for Technology
and Innovation (CCTI, a Colorado 501(c)3) in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. CCTI is a collaborative ecosystem where industry, small
business, entrepreneurs, startups, government, academia, and
investors intersect with Colorado’s aerospace and defense industry
to create community, spark innovation, and stimulate business
growth.
- Space Domain Awareness Cohort
Shae Thomas
Catalyst Accelerator
Shae.Thomas@CatalystCampus.Org