# Space-focused Basic Research

**R-2A activity** of project 610001 — Defense Research Sciences - Space  
**Program element:** 0601102SF — Defense Research Sciences - Space  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force · **Budget Activity:** 1  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601102SF/610001/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601102SF

## Summary

This activity requests $20.0M in FY2027, 96% of project 610001, down 5.6% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2026–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** - Continue to understand the solar terrestrial environment extending from the Sun through Earth's magnetosphere and radiation belts to the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region to improve operational space weather forecasting. - Continue to advance the fundamental understanding of the physical processes that impact the motion and control of both natural and artificial objects moving in the gravity fields associated with the Earth/Moon/Sun system needed to enable future operations beyond geostationary earth orbits (X-GEO) operations. - Continue to conduct research in life sciences such as synthetic biology, biologically produced components, and biological processes to understand and mitigate the impacts of harsh and remote environments on future operations and future assets. - Continue to explore theories, principles, and practical concepts of physical and biological sciences in harsh and remote environments to identify solutions to current and future U.S. Space Force mission needs. - Continue to conduct foundational scientific research to enable greatly enhanced maneuver and power capabilities in the space environment. - Continue to explore novel ideas that may bridge these major efforts and enhance global space operations.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 decreased compared to FY 2026 by $1.183 million due to decreased emphasis on Space-focused basic research. This reduction reflects programmatic adjustments to the DAF Science and Technology portfolio for strategic realignment to optimize core research areas and improve resource efficiency. This will result in approximately 5 fewer grants awarded in Space-focused basic research.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** - Seek to understand the solar terrestrial environment extending from the Sun through Earth's magnetosphere and radiation belts to the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region to improve operational space weather forecasting. - Advance the fundamental understanding of the physical processes that impact the motion and control of both natural and artificial objects moving in the gravity fields associated with the Earth/Moon/Sun system needed to enable future operations beyond geostationary earth orbits (X-GEO) operations. - Conduct research in life sciences such as synthetic biology, biologically produced components, and biological processes to understand and mitigate the impacts of harsh and remote environments on future operations and future assets. - Explore theories, principles, and practical concepts of physical and biological sciences in harsh and remote environments to identify solutions to current and future U.S. Space Force mission needs. - Conduct foundational scientific research to enable greatly enhanced maneuver and power capabilities in the space environment. - Explore novel ideas that may bridge these major efforts and enhance global space operations.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 19.1 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 21.2 |
| FY2027 | Request | 20.0 |

> Prior, current and budget year only — an R-2A activity carries no five-year plan. It sums exactly into its project in the request year and not necessarily in any other.

## Other activities in project 610001

- Leveraging International S&T for DAF Advantage — FY2027 0.8

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0601102SF project 610001 (PB PB2027). Narrative is the government's own text.
- **No marks, no contractors at this grain** — congressional marks land on the program element and R-3 performers on the project.
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_activity`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*