LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (SSC PR) — Space Systems Command (SSC) recently awarded a $25.2 million, 39-month contract to Slingshot Aerospace, Inc. of El Segundo, California. Both SSC and SpaceWERX provided funding for the contract to acquire and host visualization and intelligence support products.

The contract is sought to develop two key products – the Slingshot Orbital Laboratory (SOLab) and the Digital Modeling & Advance Visualization Environment (DMAVE) digital twin tool.

“The intent of the SpaceWERX Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program is to scale technology development over the “valley of death” by capitalizing on the most promising emerging commercial solutions to deliver better capabilities to the warfighter, faster,” said Lt. Col. Walter McMillan, director of SpaceWERX. “Each year, the STRATFI program places its ‘big bets’ on the most innovative technologies that meet critical mission gaps. Slingshot’s space education and simulation products have garnered support from across the Space Force operational and acquisition community as we see tremendous value in the technology.”

LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFRL PR) – SpaceWERX officially lifted off Aug. 19 during the virtual Space Force Pitch Day. The event closed with 19 small businesses securing Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contracts to advance their cutting-edge space technologies.

The newly launched SpaceWERX will play a vital role in pursuing innovative technologies for the U.S. Space Force. It will operate as part of AFWERX, the Department of the Air Force’s innovation arm.

“What better way of introducing the new organization than bringing in new partners, locking in new investments and going after great space technology,” said Lt. Col. Walter “Rock” McMillan, SpaceWERX Director. “We’re excited to be partnering with these great companies and the great technology they bring to the table.”