Reflect Orbital Selected for SBIR Phase II Contract by AFWERX to Advance Satellite-Based Sunlight Redirection Technology

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Reflect Orbital Selected for SBIR Phase II Contract by AFWERX to Advance Satellite-Based Sunlight Redirection Technology

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Reflect Orbital Selected for SBIR Phase II Contract by AFWERX to Advance Satellite-Based Sunlight Redirection Technology
by Staff and Agencies
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 04, 2025

Reflect Orbital announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Phase II SBIR contract in the amount of $1.25 million focused on its sunlight on demand satellite reflector technology to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on May 14, 2025, Reflect Orbital will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

"This award validates the critical national need for nighttime energy and light, and reflects our belief that scalable, space-based solutions can deliver responsive light and energy anywhere on Earth," said Ben Nowack, CEO and Co-founder of Reflect Orbital. "We're thankful for the vote of confidence from the Department of the Air Force to advance energy independence and resilience."

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Reflect Orbital is building a constellation of satellites to deliver sunlight on demand. Using advanced reflector technology and large deployable structures, its satellites transform into precise orbital mirrors, creating a new category of space-enabled infrastructure. Backed by Lux Capital, Sequoia Capital, and Starship Ventures, Reflect serves critical needs across energy resilience, nighttime lighting, defense, and beyond.

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