ExLabs Awarded Space Force Orbital Prime Contract for Robotic Capture System
Exploration Laboratories, ExLabs announces it has been selected by SpaceWERX for a Direct-to-Phase II SBIR contract in the amount of $1.7M, focused on Autonomous Capture and Acquisition to investigate its potential to fill capability gaps in the Department of the Air Force (DAF).
The Air Force Research Laboratory and SpaceWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through a faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and losing bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering ‘The Open Topic’ SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded, ExLabs will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.
About ExLabs
Exploration Laboratories, ExLabs, is developing next-generation scale spacecraft for capture and control operations for orbital debris clean-up, paving the way for deep space missions for natural resource retrieval. ExLabs’ broader mission is to unlock the vast resources of space in support of human sustainability. The company is committed to making this vision a reality, and simultaneously protecting Earth’s delicate ecosystems. ExLabs’ mission is not just about securing the resources needed for the future but also healing the damage inflicted upon our home planet in the past, creating a path towards a true net-zero world and a brighter future for generations to come.
About The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
Sole organization leading the planning & execution of USAF & USSF science & technology programs. Orchestrates a world-wide government, industry & academia coalition in the discovery, development & delivery of a wide range of revolutionary technology. Provides leading-edge warfighting capabilities keeping air, space and cyberspace forces the world’s best. Employs 10,800 military, civilian, and contractor personnel at 17 research sites executing an annual $4B budget.
For more information, visit: www.afresearchlab.com.
About SpaceWERX
SpaceWERX is the innovation arm of the US Space Force and a part of AFWERX. It blends the best of commercial innovation with the needs of the Guardians who depend on space technology to do their jobs. Learn more: https://www.spacewerx.us/.
ExLabs Press Contact:
Lindsey O’Shea, Marketing & Communications
press@exlabs.space
