The Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) is a direct reporting unit of the U.S. Space Force that specializes in the rapid development, production, and deployment of space capabilities to meet critical, short-term needs. It serves as one of the Space Force's acquisition organizations, delivering first-of-their-kind operational space capabilities to protect space assets and defend against space-enabled attacks. Space RCO works closely with U.S. Space Command and other Space Force field commands to expedite the fielding of space capabilities, often leveraging cutting-edge commercial technology. Key activities include command and control software development, satellite operations, and electronic warfare systems, partnering with organizations like Space Systems Command and small businesses to achieve its mission.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Frontier Technology has been contracted by the U.S. Space Force Space Rapid Capabilities Office under IDIQ multi-year task orders to develop ground systems software for the R2C2 program.
The Space RCO will award task orders under the R2C2 IDIQ over five years with a potential two-year extension.
The Space RCO established the R2C2 program office in February 2023 in response to directives from Frank Calvelli, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration.
BlueHalo’s SCAR program is a $1,400,000,000 program that the U.S. Space Force Space RCO announced in May 2022 to significantly increase satellite control capacity.
The U.S. Space RCO established the $1,400,000,000 Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource program in May 2022 to significantly increase satellite control capacity for dynamic missions.
BlueHalo completed a milestone demonstration of integrated backend mission services for the U.S. Space Force Space Rapid Capabilities Office Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource program at the 2024 Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office plans to work with smaller commercial firms to enable continuous delivery and production of software for agile space operations.
The Rapid Resilient Command and Control program (R2C2) is a new initiative led by the Space Force’s Space Rapid Capabilities Office to develop a modern software-based ground control system for military satellites.
The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate, Space Systems Command’s Prototyping and Innovation Directorate, and the Space Rapid Capabilities Office are three space organizations in New Mexico with a combined budget of at least $2,000,000,000.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office announced the $1,400,000,000 Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource (SCAR) program in May 2022.
BlueHalo won a $1,400,000,000 contract from the Space Rapid Capabilities Office last year to update 12 military ground stations with modern systems.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office awarded BlueHalo an eight-year contract last year to supply and install the new SCAR antennas.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office was modeled after the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, which was established in 2003.
Space Rapid Capabilities Office awarded BlueHalo a $1.4 billion, eight-year contract to replace outdated analog antennas with phased arrays under the SCAR program.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office is seeking to leverage commercial space technology but faces barriers from the classified nature of many projects that limit participation by companies without required clearances or secure facilities.
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy launched a national security mission to geostationary Earth orbit on 2023-01-15 that carried three payloads developed by the Space Rapid Capabilities Office.
The payloads for the three Space Rapid Capabilities Office smallsats on USSF-67 were produced and delivered in less than three years.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office can award contracts of up to $1,000,000,000 without requiring approval from the Pentagon or a service acquisition executive.
Congress established the Space Rapid Capabilities Office in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office operates with greater autonomy and congressionally delegated authorities compared with most military procurement organizations.