On December 8, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) posted a solicitation for “quickly getting to and operating in XGEO space via commercial services.” Responses are due by December 21.
Primary Challenge & Objective: There is a vast region of space that begins at Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) and extends out to the Earth-Moon Lagrange point on the far side of the Moon (L2).
Commonly referred to as xGEO (beyond GEO), this region will experience a rapid influx of activity from national, international, and commercial sources in this decade. As the U.S. prepares to return to the Moon, the need for responsive access to this region is absolutely necessary, or in Latin “sine qua non”. The Department of Defense (DoD) seeks commercial solutions for implementing responsive access to xGEO and demonstrating timely and precise delivery of a space vehicle (SV) to a predetermined orbit in xGEO.
Secondary Challenge & Objective: Operating vehicles and payloads in xGEO is another challenge. The communications infrastructure is sparse, the radiation environment is harsh, and gravity from the Moon and Sun have greater effects on station keeping and maneuvering. As such, the DoD further seeks technical demonstration of a suite of payloads or instruments on board the Sinequone SV in the xGEO region of space and provide the means to develop and improve procedures and best practices for operation.
Review the DIU XGEO solicitation.
Source: DIU
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