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.
Space RCO began working with Space Systems Command to identify launch opportunities for these payloads in 2019.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office is a U.S. Space Force organization that procures and manages classified space systems.
Space Rapid Capabilities Office was established by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act to enable space acquisitions to move quickly.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office awarded BlueHalo a $1,400,000,000 eight-year contract to add communications capacity to the ground network used by the U.S. military to command and control its satellites.
Space Systems Command completed an evaluation of phased arrays in February 2021 and partnered with the Space Rapid Capabilities Office to share relevant information, knowledge, and lessons learned from that evaluation.
On 2022-05-24, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office awarded BlueHalo an other transaction authority contract for the satellite communications augmentation resource program.
Acquisition for the SCAR effort incorporated SpRCO’s “Right Path to Rapid” business practices, including expanding competitive vendor pools and managing the acquisition process through frequent communication with government and industry.
The U.S. Space Force’s Space Rapid Capabilities Office competitively awarded an Other Transaction Agreement for the Satellite Communications Augmentation Resource program to BlueHalo in Albuquerque, New Mexico for $1,400,000,000 on 2022-05-21.
The 2022 defense spending bill requests clarification of the roles and responsibilities of senior civilian and uniformed leaders with space responsibilities and asks for an explanation of what space acquisition units do, including the Space Warfighting Analysis Center, Space Development Agency, Space Rapid Capabilities Office, and space programs in the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office was established by congressional mandate in 2018 and has special authorities to accelerate procurements.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office and the Space Systems Command report directly to the four-star chief of space operations and receive procurement authorities from the service’s civilian acquisition executive under the secretary of the Air Force.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office procures classified systems and reports to the chief of the U.S. Space Force.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office was established with congressional help and is two years old while already delivering capabilities at speed.
DoD consolidated some organizations under the Space Force while creating the Space Development Agency and the Space Rapid Capabilities Office to quickly develop new systems.
Space Systems Command will provide select administrative and integration support to the Space Rapid Capabilities Office at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office at Kirtland Air Force Base and the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency will not be part of Space Systems Command but will work closely with the new command.
The Space Force intends for the Space Systems Command to work together with existing organizations including the Space and Missile Systems Center, the Space Development Agency, and the Space Rapid Capabilities Office.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office was established by congressional mandate in November 2018.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office has a budget of over $100,000,000 to develop and acquire space technologies using special authorities.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office is based at Kirtland Air Force Base and develops and acquires classified space technologies using special authorities.