U.S. Space Force SpaceWERX Awards RPO Demonstration Contract
Momentus Will Demonstrate an Internally Developed RPO System
SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force, has awarded a $1.86M Direct to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to Momentus Space. The award supports the in-space flight demonstration of a novel, low-cost multi-spectral sensor suite for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), scheduled for early 2026.
“This contract marks a major milestone in advancing cost-effective, autonomous in-space operations.”
John Rood, Momentus
Under this contract, Momentus will demonstrate an internally developed RPO system equipped with optical, infrared, and lidar sensors. The technology integrates machine vision algorithms and advanced data fusion used to guide the safe and autonomous approach of a spacecraft to an uncharacterized object in low Earth orbit.
“This contract marks a major milestone in advancing cost-effective, autonomous in-space operations,” said John Rood, Chief Executive Officer of Momentus. “We’re honored to support the U.S. Space Force and Department of the Air Force in developing the advanced capabilities needed to support their plans for dynamic space operations such as orbital servicing and refueling of satellites, assembly of structures in space, and debris mitigation.”
The flight demonstration will take place aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-16 rideshare mission scheduled for launch no earlier than February 2026, where Momentus will host the RPO payload on its Vigoride orbital service vehicle. The demonstration will be conducted alongside a group of commercial and Department of Defense customers.
The project stems from the SpaceWERX Sustained Space Maneuver Challenge launched in 2024, where Momentus’ proposal was selected out of numerous challengers for a Direct to Phase II award following a competitive evaluation. Contract negotiations were concluded in early June 2025.