Muon Space Awarded National Reconnaissance Office Contract for Commercial Electro-Optical Capabilities

Muon Space Awarded National Reconnaissance Office Contract for Commercial Electro-Optical Capabilities
by Staff Writers
Mountain View CA (SPX) Dec 07, 2023

Muon Space, an innovative leader in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, has recently secured a significant contract from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). This contract tasks Muon Space with providing commercial electro-optical (EO) capabilities, encompassing both sensor and constellation level assessments for potential integration into NRO's mission. This award is part of the NRO Strategic Commercial Enhancements (SCE) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Framework, focusing on commercial electro-optical capabilities.

Under this contract, Muon Space will contribute multispectral electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) data from its climate monitoring constellation. This data will be used by the NRO for comprehensive evaluation. Muon Space's planned full constellation, set to be deployed at regular intervals, aims to offer global coverage with frequent revisits. This setup ensures a continuous and detailed understanding of global thermal activity, a crucial aspect for both climate monitoring and national security.

Jonny Dyer, CEO of Muon Space, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration. "We are excited to participate in the NRO's evaluation of emerging commercial EO providers. The dual application of our data in climate and national security missions is something we deeply believe in. We look forward to establishing a strong, enduring partnership with the NRO," he said.

Since its inception two years ago, Muon Space has made remarkable strides in satellite technology. The company has developed a satellite platform specifically optimized for remote sensing payloads. This development led to the successful launch of their first satellite, MuSat-1, in June 2023. Additionally, Muon Space has secured contracts from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's (AFLMC) Weather Systems Branch and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to evaluate various data sets on their MuSat-2 satellite mission. Further solidifying its industry standing, Muon Space also won a contract from Hydrosat to provide spacecraft for their Constellation-as-a-Service (CaaS), which will integrate Hydrosat's imaging instruments.

Christine Fox, a former Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense and member of Muon Space's board, commented on this achievement. "I am thrilled to witness Muon Space leveraging their capabilities to address National Security challenges. The NRO's commitment to integrating emerging commercial technologies at the necessary speed and scale is commendable. Muon Space's offerings will furnish the NRO with critical insights and understandings at an unclassified level, facilitating easier collaboration with global partners," she stated.