AI-Driven Space Mission Autonomy Development

The contract calls for the design and development of artificial intelligence and machine learning systems aimed at enabling autonomous decision-making on space-based platforms, including satellite swarms and systems performing orbital maneuvering, with full operational independence from ground-based control. The focus is on creating robust, self-sufficient AI architectures capable of real-time navigation, threat assessment, resource allocation, and mission adaptation in the high-stakes, latency-constrained environment of outer space. The work must address challenges such as radiation-hardened computing, low-bandwidth communication, and dynamic mission objectives without relying on human input, ensuring sustained functionality under extreme conditions. This subcontract, issued under the NAICS code 511210 by the Air Force Research Laboratory under the Department of Defense, requires proposals to be submitted by August 13, 2026. The performance location is not specified, but the work is expected to support critical national defense and space operations. The initiative seeks advanced AI solutions that can operate reliably in autonomous space missions, pushing the boundaries of on-board processing, adaptive learning, and fault-tolerant control systems tailored for space assets. There is no set-aside designation, indicating open competition among qualified contractors with proven expertise in embedded AI, space systems, and autonomous robotics.