DARPA Selects SpaceLink to Participate in its Program to Connect the Proliferated Space Domain

Rhea-AI Summary

SpaceLink has been awarded a contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for its Space-Based Adaptive Communications Node (Space-BACN) program. This initiative aims to facilitate communications in the proliferated space domain. SpaceLink will help develop protocols for commercial communications to interact with government systems, leveraging its relay satellites in MEO with optical links. In collaboration with Parsons Corporation (PSN), SpaceLink aims to enhance space-to-space connectivity through dynamic optical communications.

MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SpaceLink,  a company that provides secure data from any orbit, any time, announced it was selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office (STO) for a contract award. SpaceLink will participate in the Space-Based Adaptive Communications Node (Space-BACN) program designed to connect the proliferated space domain.

SpaceLink is building a constellation of relay satellites in MEO that use optical intersatellite links to speed communications between spacecraft on orbit and users on the ground. Along with other contributors, SpaceLink will assist DARPA in studying and developing protocols for how commercial communications constellations will interact with Department of Defense (DoD) systems in a Space-to-Space interconnected future.

"DARPA's Space-BACN program is well-aligned with our mission to provide continuous high capacity, real-time links to deliver data from space to the warfighter," said David Nemeth, Senior Vice President of Systems Engineering at SpaceLink. "DARPA's vision of interoperability will unlock the value of the proliferating commercial remote sensing constellations for U.S. government agencies. We are gratified to share our technical insights with regard to command and control and API development."

SpaceLink will contribute its technical insights in the development of the application program interface (API) and algorithms included in Space-BACN Technical Area 3 (TA3). SpaceLink will also have the opportunity to support the simulation and testing that informs the deployment and utilization of Space-BACN reconfigurable optical communications terminals.

SpaceLink is partnering with Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) on a technical approach to support the Space-BACN program by combining Parsons' existing enterprise scheduling and tasking software with the SpaceLink optical relay network. Together they will enable space-to-space optical communications terminals that can be dynamically modified on-orbit to adapt and talk across various optical standards used by different satellite systems.

The Space-BACN contract award marks an important milestone in the SpaceLink roadmap. The company also recently announced it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Technical Center (SMDTC) in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

In March 2022 SpaceLink was the recipient of the Chairman's Award for Outstanding Innovation from the MSUA.

About SpaceLink

SpaceLink will help advance humanity to a new age of space commerce, exploration, environmental awareness, and security. The Always in Sight™ data relay system provides global coverage to empower space system operators to maximize use of their assets. SpaceLink Corporation is headquartered in Northern Virginia and has offices in Silicon Valley, California. It is a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited, a public company traded on the Australian stock exchange.

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FAQ

What contract has SpaceLink received from DARPA?

SpaceLink was awarded a contract to participate in DARPA's Space-Based Adaptive Communications Node (Space-BACN) program.

How will SpaceLink contribute to the Space-BACN program?

SpaceLink will develop protocols for commercial communications constellations and assist in API development, simulation, and testing.

What is the significance of the Space-BACN program?

The Space-BACN program aims to improve interoperability between commercial remote sensing constellations and U.S. government systems.

How is SpaceLink collaborating with Parsons Corporation (PSN)?

SpaceLink is partnering with Parsons to integrate their scheduling software with SpaceLink's optical relay network for enhanced communications.

What recent recognition did SpaceLink receive?

In March 2022, SpaceLink received the Chairman's Award for Outstanding Innovation from MSUA.