The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a research and development agency within the U.S. Department of Defense, responsible for creating breakthrough technologies for national security. While not a space agency, DARPA initiates and manages high-risk, high-payoff projects relevant to space, including satellite constellations, space-based surveillance tech, lunar habitats, and advanced propulsion systems like nuclear thermal rockets. DARPA partners with various organizations, including NASA, U.S. Space Force, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, and BAE Systems, to achieve its goals. Keywords associated with DARPA's space activities include space superiority, space-based weaponry, advanced materials, and autonomous systems.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
DARPA leads the RSGS mission with support from NASA.
DARPA, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, and NASA were mission partners for Northrop Grumman's Mission Robotic Vehicle and Mission Extension Pod spacecraft launch.
NASA and DARPA partnered on the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations project in early 2023.
DARPA was Pegasus’s first customer.
DARPA canceled the DRACO nuclear propulsion project in July 2025.
DARPA awarded Lockheed Martin a contract in July 2023 to develop and demonstrate a nuclear-powered spacecraft.
Northrop Grumman built the Mission Robotic Vehicle in partnership with DARPA and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.
DARPA’s Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites program aims to validate deep-space mechanical repair robotic arms in high orbits.
DARPA issued a Request for Information seeking industry input on ways to rapidly restore critical satellite capabilities after an attack.
DARPA is seeking both near-term, ready-to-deploy options and early-stage research concepts for rapid reconstitution of space capabilities.
DARPA has issued a Request for Information for the Rapid Reconstitution of Space Capabilities program.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has issued a targeted Request for Information for the Rapid Reconstitution of Space Capabilities program.
DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office will accept formal industry responses through July 8, 2026.
DARPA is seeking both near-term, ready-to-deploy options and early-stage research concepts for rapid space reconstitution.
Quantum Space has six contracts and pending proposals with national-security customers including the Space Force, DARPA, and AFRL.
Voyager Technologies’ Acceleration Measurement System will fly aboard the DARPA Otter spacecraft.
Redwire awarded Voyager Technologies a subcontract to supply a high-precision Acceleration Measurement System for the DARPA Otter spacecraft.
Anne Cheever was a program manager at DARPA.
DARPA Otter is developing a first-of-its-kind air-breathing spacecraft capable of sustained operations in very low Earth orbit.
DARPA and Northrop Grumman are extending the life of space infrastructure through automated orbital maintenance in geosynchronous orbit.