SpaceRig

Last week, SpaceWERX hosted the Innovate 2 Accelerate (I2A) Expo Day in El Segundo, California. Inaugural I2A cohort companies were in attendance to present their technology and company in front of government, industry, venture, and press for a collision of tech, investment, government, and art. The keynote speaker was Dr. Sian Proctor, the first Black commercial astronaut and first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft. At 51 years old, Dr. Proctor was the mission pilot for SpaceX Inspiration4, the world's first all-civilian mission to orbit in space. Dr. Proctor spoke on the importance of encouraging connections and creating complementary capabilities in the Space industry; “collaborate not compete.” Circling back to her accomplishments and accolades, Dr. Proctor encouraged attendees to be the first person to do something. 🌟 As Dr. Proctor encouraged the audience with her call to action, SpaceWERX, an innovation arm of the United States Space Force, a unique division within AFWERX, continues to inspire and empower collaboration with innovators, industry and government teams to accelerate capabilities and shape our future in space. Learn more about the life-changing mission and the many detours Dr. Proctor navigated and the challenges she overcame: https://ow.ly/uQyq50Rv1E7 . . . #SpaceWERX #SpaceWERXChallenge #Innovate2Accelerate #I2A #keynote #DrSianProctor #SpaceXInspiration4 #event #collaboration #government #technology #innovation

See you in LA! 🏖 Or El Segundo to be specific 🛫. SpaceRig with be presenting at the SpaceWERX and DTI Tactically Responsive Space Expo and Demo Day on Thursday, April 25th. VCs, government, industry, refreshments! Join us there! Chag sameach! https://lnkd.in/evZNGcRj

SpaceWERX, in partnership with Space Safari, is pleased to announce the 19 awardees of the 2023 SpaceWERX Tactically Responsive Space Challenge! The TacRS Challenge generates cutting-edge ideas and state-of-the-art capabilities that will enable the United States Space Force to more rapidly and flexibly respond to emerging on-orbit threats by 2026. “The TacRS Challenge SBIR Direct to Phase II contracts are going to propel the U.S. Space Force toward future responsive and dynamic space operations,” said Col Erik Stockham, USSF Space Systems Command (SSC/SZA). “The future of space power requires capabilities that can respond to adversary action on tactical timelines. These innovative small businesses are developing groundbreaking approaches to employ space capabilities when and where it counts.” “The TacRS SpaceWERX Challenge shows how impactful the collaboration with our mission owners can be. We’re thrilled to have supported the TacRS program team on what is clearly going to be an impressive cohort of companies and technologies.” said Lt. Col. Vinny Pande, Chief of SpaceWERX Ventures. 232 companies submitted 302 proposals in response to the TacRS Open Innovation Challenge in Aug., a SBIR solicitation open to innovators from industry, academia, and government with solutions to solve identified problems. SpaceWERX will award up to $1.7M to each of the below SBIR Phase II companies, totaling $32.3M with a 15-month period-of-performance. ◾ Agile Space Industries, Inc. ◾ Apex Technology, Inc. ◾ Argo Space Corp. ◾ Circle Optics, Inc. ◾ Gravitics, Inc. ◾ Impulse Space, Inc. (two awards) ◾ K2 Space Corporation ◾ Map Large, Inc. ◾ PickNik, Inc. ◾ Portal Space Systems Inc. ◾ SCOUT Inc. ◾ Space Rig Systems Inc. ◾ Starfish Space ◾ Ten One Aerospace, LLC ◾ True Anomaly, Inc. ◾ Turion Space Corp. ◾ Varda Space Industries ◾ Xtenti, LLC Join us in congratulating our TacRS awardees! . . . #AFWERX #SpaceWERX #TacRS #SpaceWERXChallenge #funding #award #orbit #space #technology #innovation