Space Force awards Rhea $1.9M SpaceWERX contract for VANGUARD AutoNav RPO
51 FOMOUnder the SpaceWERX Sustained Space Maneuver Challenge, Rhea Space Activity received a Direct-to-Phase II SBIR contract of approximately $1.9 million for VANGUARD. The project enhances AutoNav to support autonomous rendezvous, proximity operations and harmonic orbit observation of resident space objects without GPS. Outcomes include hardware-in-the-loop simulation tools for LEO and GEO scenarios.
Why it matters
Direct alignment with U.S. Space Command demand for sustained maneuver and RPO in contested orbits positions AutoNav as a core enabler for on-orbit servicing and inspection missions.
The numbers
Each company selected under the challenge received a Small Business Innovation Research "Direct to Phase 2" contract worth about $1.9 million.
SourceCoverage
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ISS Tracker ·
Rhea Space Activity applies optical navigation to military rendezvous missionsCoverage of the Vanguard project noting Rhea was one of ten firms selected for SpaceWERX Sustained Space Maneuver Challenge Direct-to-Phase II awards of about $1.9 million each.
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SpaceNews ·
Rhea Space Activity applies optical navigation to military rendezvous missionsSpaceNews covered Rhea Space Activity’s Vanguard project under a $1.9 million SpaceWERX contract. The work adapts NASA-developed AutoNav for autonomous GPS-denied rendezvous and proximity operations in Earth orbit.
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Rhea Space Activity ·
Rhea Space Activity Nets U.S. Space Force Contract to Enhance AutoNav for Sustained Space ManeuversRhea Space Activity announced a U.S. Space Force / SpaceWERX contract for the VANGUARD project. It extends AutoNav to enable autonomous GPS-denied rendezvous and proximity operations in Earth-centric orbits using passive optical navigation.
AI-assisted summary of 3 reports; numbers link to their source. Spot an error? Tell us.
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Veenie.Space Telemetry
Under the SpaceWERX Sustained Space Maneuver Challenge, Rhea Space Activity received a Direct-to-Pha