Polaris IntelligencePolaris Intelligence
InformationOrganizationsSpacecraftMissionsConstellationsLaunch VehiclesLocations
© Polaris Intelligence 2025Admin

Air Force Research Lab (AFRL)

US
gov defense
United States
Admin Edit

Verified facts grounded in source documentation.

LeoLabs is developing next-generation radar technology for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory via a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research award to enhance tracking of noncooperative launches, smaller orbital debris, and objects in Very Low Earth Orbit.

NARRATIVE PLAN8/6/2024LeoLabs Achieves Record Bookings, Solidifying its Lead in the Space Domain Awareness and Space Traffic Management Markets

Rocket Lab successfully launched an Air Force Research Laboratory-sponsored demonstration satellite called Monolith in 2021.

TECHNICAL PRODUCT4/8/2024U.S. Space Force Awards Rocket Lab Launch Contract for Space Test Program (STP)-S30

Axient Corp. won a contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory in September 2023 to manage small-satellite military experiments.

ORG RELATIONSHIP3/5/2024Terran Orbital wins $15 million contract for U.S. Space Force satellite experiments

Axient won a contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory in September 2023 worth up to $25,000,000 for integrated space experiments.

ORG RELATIONSHIP3/4/2024BlackSky wins defense contract to supply satellite data to train AI models

Intuitive Machines also won a contract with the Air Force Research Lab for designs of nuclear-powered spacecraft.

ORG RELATIONSHIP10/16/2023Commercial lunar landers prepare for liftoff

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate plans to launch an experiment in 2025 to track objects in cislunar space.

NARRATIVE GROWTH2/28/2023Industry group to examine potential security threats in cislunar space

The Air Force Research Laboratory plans to launch a demonstration mission to deep space in 2025 to detect and track objects near the moon that cannot be viewed optically from Earth or from satellites in traditional orbits.

NARRATIVE GROWTH1/26/2023Supporting military operations on Earth to remain U.S. Space Force’s top priority

VentureScope won a contract to establish an internal accelerator as part of AFWERX, a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory initiative to connect government, industry, and academic innovators.

ORG RELATIONSHIP12/16/2022VentureScope sets up accelerator for U.S. Air Force personnel

The cyber range concept includes four cubesats that AFRL plans to launch to low Earth orbit in fiscal year 2024.

NARRATIVE GROWTH10/6/2022AFRL developing ‘cyber range’ for space operators

Concurrent Technologies Corporation was awarded a $5,200,000 contract by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to build the world’s largest additive manufacturing machine.

NARRATIVE GENERAL9/26/2022Concurrent Technologies delving into AFRL contract to build world’s largest additive manufacturing (AM) machine

AFRL plans to launch a $100,000,000 experimental satellite named Arachne in 2025 to collect solar power in outer space for use back on Earth.

NARRATIVE GROWTH8/29/2022New head of AFRL space vehicles looking for talent to help push technology forward

AFRL will use real-world scenarios under the agreement to explore how HawkEye 360’s radio frequency data and analytics can supplement and strengthen a hybrid satellite ISR architecture and to develop new tactics, techniques, and procedures for utility assessments.

NARRATIVE PLAN1/11/2022HawkEye 360 wins $15.5 million AFRL contract

Phase Four won a contract on 2021-08-18 at the U.S. Space Force’s first SpaceWERX Pitch Day to fuel its Maxwell engine with the green propellant ASCENT developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.

ORG RELATIONSHIP8/25/2021Phase Four Maxwell to test green propellant

The Space and Missile Systems Center is partnering with the Air Force Research Laboratory and other mission partners on experiments, small satellites, and prototypes to develop new concepts.

NARRATIVE PLAN8/5/2020U.S. military space architecture to bring in commercial systems, small satellites

The Air Force Research Laboratory plans to launch NTS-3 in 2022.

NARRATIVE GROWTH2/5/2020Air Force gives nod to L3Harris to continue development of NTS-3 navigation satellite

Blue Canyon Technologies won a contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory in September 2017 to build two smallsats intended to operate in geostationary orbit.

ORG RELATIONSHIP2/15/2019Air Force smallsat to fly on upcoming Falcon 9 launch