U.S. defense program seeks next-generation space monitoring tools | Space

WASHINGTON — As the space race intensifies and geopolitical tensions rise, the Pentagon is looking for technologies to enhance its understanding of activities in outer space.

The Space Security and Defense Program (SSDP), a joint initiative of the Department of Defense and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, on Sept. 11 issued a request for information (RFI) on advanced space domain awareness technologies. The SSDP is responsible for assessing potential threats to U.S. space assets and for gathering insights on technologies for the defense of U.S. systems.

Space domain awareness, or SDA, refers to the capability to monitor and understand the vast array of artificial objects in Earth’s orbit, including satellites and space debris.

The RFI is a formal mechanism used by government agencies to solicit ideas before committing to contracts. Military leaders for years have argued that the increasingly crowded and contested space environment necessitates more sophisticated tools for tracking and analyzing objects in orbit. The RFI specifically seeks “proven and innovative SDA concepts prioritizing support to military operations, surveillance of man-made objects, intelligence gathering, and environmental monitoring.”

The release of the RFI follows pointed remarks from retired Lt. Gen. John Shaw, a former top U.S…