The Space Force is weighing up to five satellites in cislunar space, the region between Earth and the Moon, that could launch as soon as 2029, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported. In a Nov. 2 notice to industry, the service said the vehicles "may serve as seed vehicles that will inform the acquisition strategy for a potential future proliferated cislunar constellation."
The service said it is "notionally interested" in a handful of satellites for a Cislunar Space System operating beyond geosynchronous orbit. The spacecraft should be ready to launch by late 2029 for initial operations by 2031, the publication wrote, and the notice seeks information on industry's ability to deliver "a rapid, low-risk solution."
Officials have said they are particularly interested in space domain awareness; positioning, navigation and timing; and communications, according to the magazine. It added that the Space Force wants propulsion for station-keeping and orbital transfers, plus AI and compute capabilities for long-duration autonomous operations.