• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • News
  • Featured
  • More News ⌄
    • SatNews
    • SatMagazine
    • MilSatMagazine
  • Events ⌄
    • MilSat Symposium
    • SmallSat Symposium
    • Satellite Innovation
  • Contacts
  • SUBSCRIPTION

SmallSat News

You are here: Home / News / Solstar Space awarded million$+ USSF / AFWERX / AFVENTURES Phase II SBIR contract

Solstar Space awarded million$+ USSF / AFWERX / AFVENTURES Phase II SBIR contract

September 8, 2023 by editorial

The contract continues R&D for a flight-ready satellite data relay transceiver prototype which will provide a bi-directional and persistent commercial satellite data connection to space-based assets.

Solstar Space (Solstar) will continue the development of the company’s Critical Data Relay Spacecraft Operational Status (CritDR-SOS), also known as the Deke Space Communicator (Deke), under a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract valued at $1,249,269.

Solstar’s small form-factor Deke integrates with a spacecraft’s Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) system to provide bi-directional, continuous, internet-based, monitoring of the spacecraft’s bus, payload, and environment. It also allows for satellite connectivity with operators or end users using robust commercial communications paths which will help eliminate spacecraft situational awareness gaps.

“Monitoring an endlessly growing number of satellites including commercially owned and operated mega-constellations is a top priority for the U.S. Space Force. With Solstar’s Deke, the Department of Air Force (DAF) can connect space assets which makes the communications network more resilient. This effort has the extended benefit of aligning with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recent directive to have de-orbiting capability on-board all spacecraft which Deke facilitates. Deke enables narrowband communications for both uplink and downlink, decreasing the time it takes to download mission data or adjust on-orbit systems. It also enables 24/7 awareness of satellite health by combining the Solstar Deke along with New Mexico Tech’s Spacecraft Health Monitor.” — Brian Barnett, CEO, Solstar Space

“New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) is developing a Spacecraft Health Monitor (SHM) that will connect to the Deke to send and receive spacecraft data. This will provide detailed spacecraft operating data and provide proactive alerts so any faults can be addressed efficiently.” — Dr. Andrei Zagrai, Professor at New Mexico Tech.

Filed Under: News

Primary Sidebar

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Archives

  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019

© 2019–2025 SatNews

x
Sign Up Now!

Enjoy a free weekly newsletter with recent headlines from the global SmallSat industry.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing! You will now receive weekly SmallSat News updates.
We love our advertisers.
And you will too!

Please disable Ad Blocker to continue... We promise to keep it unobtrusive.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.