- SAIC secured its first contract with the Pentagon to integrate a small satellite in partnership with GomSpace.
- The contract entails demonstrating advanced space technologies, including AI, machine learning, edge computing, and cybersecurity.
- SAIC’s collaboration with GomSpace North America and ThermAvant Technologies strengthens its position in the small satellite market.
- The cubesat, scheduled for launch in 2025, aims to revolutionize computing power in space with AI capabilities.
- This initiative aligns with the Pentagon’s broader push to adopt AI and advanced computing for national security.
Main AI News:
In a significant development, SAIC, a prominent U.S. defense contractor, has clinched its inaugural contract with the Pentagon, entailing the integration of a small satellite. This feat is realized through a strategic collaboration with leading spacecraft manufacturer GomSpace.
The undisclosed-value contract, bestowed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Manufacturing Science and Technology Program, entrusts SAIC with the task of conceptualizing and deploying a satellite aimed at showcasing cutting-edge space technologies. These include artificial intelligence, machine learning, edge computing, and software-defined radio communications, all underpinned by a robust “zero-trust” cybersecurity framework.
This agreement stands as a pivotal triumph for SAIC’s burgeoning space portfolio, further fortified by its alliance with GomSpace North America, a partnership established slightly over a year ago. This collaboration is specifically geared towards the joint pursuit of small satellite endeavors spanning design, production, deployment, and operationalization.
David Ray, Executive Vice President of SAIC’s Space and Intelligence Business Group, divulged that the satellite integration will be conducted at the company’s Charleston, South Carolina facility. He emphasized the project’s significance in underscoring the escalating role of small satellites within defense applications.
Ray elaborated, stating, “Our Charleston facility serves as a sandbox, facilitating collaboration with smallsat bus providers and pioneering payload developers pioneering novel advancements in space.”
Collaborative Efforts with GomSpace and ThermAvant
GomSpace North America, the U.S. arm of Denmark-based GomSpace Group, will furnish the cubesat platform pivotal to the project’s realization. Additionally, SAIC will collaborate with ThermAvant Technologies, a renowned supplier of oscillating heat pipes, offering thermal management solutions tailored for space systems.
Frank Tobin, President and CEO of GomSpace North America, expressed enthusiasm, remarking, “We are thrilled to contribute to this pivotal mission for the Office of the Secretary of Defense in tandem with our partners at SAIC.”
Meanwhile, Joe Boswell, Co-founder and CEO of ThermAvant Technologies, elucidated on the objective, emphasizing the endeavor to engineer a power-dense cubesat maximizing power output relative to its compact form factor. He highlighted innovative mechanical structures infused with oscillating heat pipes, meticulously designed to enhance thermal performance while minimizing size and weight.
Elevating Computing Power in Space
Scheduled for launch in 2025, the cubesat aspires to redefine the benchmarks for computing potency on a diminutive platform, asserts SAIC. By enabling AI and machine learning capabilities “at the edge” in space, the satellite is poised to expedite data processing with minimal latency.
A spokesperson from SAIC underscored the significance, stating, “With enhanced compute capabilities in orbit, the necessity for data transport back to ground stations for processing and dissemination diminishes significantly, thereby slashing decision-making latency.”
Alignment with Pentagon’s Strategic Vision
The Pentagon’s Defense Manufacturing Science and Technology Program, entrusted with spearheading R&D investments in critical manufacturing technologies vital to U.S. defense, oversees this ambitious satellite initiative. It harmonizes seamlessly with the Pentagon’s broader strategic imperatives aimed at expediting the adoption of AI and next-generation computing capabilities to fortify national security.
Conclusion:
SAIC’s successful bid for the Pentagon contract, facilitated by its partnership with GomSpace, signifies a significant milestone in the evolving landscape of small satellite technology. This strategic collaboration not only reinforces SAIC’s foothold in the market but also underscores the growing importance of AI and advanced computing capabilities in space exploration and national defense. As the demand for innovative space solutions continues to rise, SAIC’s expertise and collaborative efforts position it favorably to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the space sector.
