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Space Test Program

US

The Space Test Program (STP) is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) program managed by the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command. Functioning as a facilitator for space-based experiments, STP provides mission design, spacecraft acquisition, integration, launch, and operations support. STP's services enable the advancement of scientific knowledge and cutting-edge technology, ensuring continuous U.S. advantage in the space domain. Key partners include NASA, commercial entities, and international allies.

gov defense
United States
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

RS21 is developing software that will be integrated into the Space Test Program ground station at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston prior to the STPSat-7 launch.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Nov 1, 2022Space Force funds experiment on use of AI to predict satellite failures

The U.S. Space Force will select a group of vendors to compete for $50,000,000 worth of task orders under a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for the Space Test Program.

RelationshipsFinancialPlanValue 4.0Oct 21, 2022Space Force to award up to $50 million in contracts for Space Test Program experiments

The Space Test Program, established in 1965, has deployed more than 300 missions.

GeneralValue 2.0Oct 21, 2022Space Force to award up to $50 million in contracts for Space Test Program experiments

The U.S. Space Force is changing its approach to procuring satellites for the Space Test Program by moving away from awarding separate contracts for individual STP missions.

PlanGovernanceRelationshipsValue 3.5Oct 21, 2022Space Force to award up to $50 million in contracts for Space Test Program experiments

The Small Launch and Targets Division’s Office at Kirtland Air Force Base awarded a $29,900,000 task order to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation on 2022-09-30 for the Space Test Program STP-S29A launch service.

RelationshipsPlanGeneralValue 4.8Oct 2, 2022SSC awards $29.9 Million to Northrop Grumman Systems for STP-S29A launch service

The mission designated STP-S28A deployed seven satellites supplied by the Department of Defense Space Test Program into low Earth orbit.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Jul 4, 2022UPDATE 2: Virgin Orbit Heads Straight Up with Space Systems Comand’s STP-S28A + six DoD rideshare partners aboard LauncherOne

The U.S. Space Force procured the STP-S28A launch through the Rocket Systems Launch Program with payloads provided by the Department of Defense Space Test Program.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.0Jun 27, 2022Virgin Orbit’s launch window for the USSF’s STP-S28A + DoD payloads to ‘go’ on June 29th

BlueHalo developed optical communications technology used by NASA in the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration that flew to orbit in December as part of the U.S. Space Force’s Space Test Program 3 mission.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.5Jun 14, 2022BlueHalo wins $11 million Air Force contract for laser communications terminals

Virgin Orbit’s next planned space launch is the U.S. military STP-28A Space Test Program mission projected to fly no earlier than 2022-06-29 from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California.

PlanValue 4.0May 10, 2022National Reconnaissance Office partners with U.K. on space mission to fly on Virgin Orbit rocket

GEARRS-3 is the third cubesat launched in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory and U.S. Space Systems Command’s Space Test Program (STP-3) to test experimental satellite-to-satellite communication systems and tracking.

CapabilityRelationshipsPlanValue 4.0Jan 17, 2022Success For NearSpace Launch’s Smallsat Orbit Acquisition Via Virgin Orbit’s Mission

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launched the Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission for the U.S. Space Force on 2021-12-07.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Dec 7, 2021ULA launches STP-3 mission with national security and NASA payloads

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will launch the Space Test Program-3 mission for the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Dec 5, 2021The First, Fully U.S.-Manufactured Fairing From RUAG Space Ready For ULA’s Atlas V STP-3 Launch

STPSat-7 is a 150-kilogram smallsat that will host research and technology demonstration payloads for the Department of Defense Space Test Program.

CapabilityValue 4.0Nov 22, 2021Aegis Aerospace Awards STPSat-7 Smallsat Mission Power Systems To AAC Clyde Space

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket was scheduled to launch the Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command on 2021-11-09.

PlanValue 4.0Nov 22, 2021UPDATE: The United Launch Alliance Launch Of USSF SSC’s STP-3 Mission Is Now Postponed Until December 5

All three Falcon Heavy rockets launched so far have been successful, and the last Falcon Heavy mission before this announcement was Space Test Program 2 in June 2019.

PlanValue 2.5Sep 23, 2021Next commercial Falcon Heavy mission to launch debut Astranis satellite

Falcon Heavy has launched three times successfully, with the most recent launch being the Space Test Program 2 mission in June 2019.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Sep 11, 2021SpaceX wins contract to launch weather satellite after ULA withdraws

In June, Virgin Orbit completed its second successful flight to space, Tubular Bells: Part One, which delivered several payloads for the U.S. Department of Defense Space Test Program to a precise target orbit.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.2Aug 30, 2021Virgin Orbit + Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Sign A Collaboration MOU

The Defense Department’s Space Test Program payload STP-H7 will now launch together with STP-H8 on the next cargo Dragon mission later 2021.

PlanValue 4.0Aug 29, 2021SpaceX ends launch hiatus with cargo Dragon mission

The Launch Enterprise projects awarding the next OSP-4 task order supporting the Space Test Program’s USSF-46S mission later this summer.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.0Aug 9, 2021USSF Awards OSP-4 Contract To Smallsat Launch Providers

The Space Test Program 3 mission scheduled to launch later 2021 on an Atlas V will carry the first Long Duration Propulsive ESPA (LDPE) payload.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Aug 9, 2021Space Force developing “freight train to space” for smallsats
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