Space Force Partners with Universities for In-Space Operations Research

The United States Space Force (USFF) has chosen two American universities to conduct applied In-Space Operations research as part of its Space Strategic Technology Institute (SSTI 2) initiative. The University of Cincinnati and Texas A&M University will receive a combined total of $49.9 million in funding. The research will focus on areas such as Space Access, Mobility, and Logistics.

Working in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, the selected universities will specifically concentrate on spaceflight experimentation and the development of space-related signal, energy, and transportation technologies. These efforts align with the country's In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing National Strategy.

Aside from the University of Cincinnati and Texas A&M University, other universities involved with the USSF include the Regents of University of Colorado Boulder and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. These universities were recently awarded funding through the organization's University Consortium Research Opportunity 2.0.

In March 2023, the USSF announced a previous University Consortium Research Opportunity focused on "xGEO Operations and SDA" (Beyond Geostationary Earth Orbit Operations and Space Domain Awareness). This initiative, conducted in partnership with the AFRL, aimed to advance research in these areas.

Furthermore, the USSF is currently accepting proposals for USSF University Consortium/Space Strategic Technology Institute 3, which is centered around Advanced Space Power and Propulsion (ASPP).

The establishment of Space Strategic Technology Institutes by the military branch aims to address space science and technology challenges through partnerships with universities. The institutes are expected to facilitate joint applied research to achieve breakthroughs and developments in space domain technology. The ultimate goal is to enhance the capabilities of the USSF and U.S. government space programs.

The USSF's responsibilities include training, equipping, and organizing space professionals to safeguard the country and its allied interests in space. Its mandate, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Defense, encompasses developing military space professionals, acquiring military space systems, refining military doctrine for space power, and organizing space forces for use by combatant commands.

The creation of the Space Force in 2020 marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time since 1947, and the establishment of the US Air Force, that a new military branch had been formed in the United States.

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