# Integrated Satellite Demonstrations

**R-2A activity** of project 633834 — Integrated Space Technology Demonstrations  
**Program element:** 1206616SF — Space Advanced Technology Development/Demo  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force · **Budget Activity:** 3  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206616SF/633834/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206616SF/633834

## Summary

This activity requests $21.4M in FY2027, 45% of project 633834, up 18% 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: - Demonstrate technologies for future proliferated systems through small satellite experiments with a mission focus of designing, building, and testing aimed at increasing the resiliency of space assets, technologies, and missions to emerging threats. - Integrate commercial, allied, and government space networks command and control (C2) of a hybrid space architecture. - Maintain and develop capabilities to support satellite operations at any classification level for a diverse range of space vehicle designs and operation at a variety of orbital regimes. - Satellite operations for 11 planned on-orbit missions including a multi-satellite constellation furthering USSF capability in dynamic space operations. - Develop infrastructure to enable standardization of control interfaces for satellite operations, and to enable cutting-edge Research & Development for defense applications and support of mission partners. - Engage with university partners to design, build, test, and operate satellites to support risk reduction experiments for United States Space Force (USSF) missions and to build an experienced workforce for USSF and defense industrial base employment. - Mission concepting to mature concepts and incorporate systems engineering to ideate on next missions to include, early design, ground experiments, and long-lead equipment purchases for several new flight experiment concepts including demonstrations supporting next generation position, navigation, and timing technology, space-to-terrestrial sensing technology, dynamic space operations, and rendezvous and proximity and docking operations. Commence: - Assembly, Integration and Test (AI&T) for experiments to evaluate capability defending US assets against Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) from adversaries - Expand efforts focused on operating in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) to include satellite operations and specialized component technologies. - Increased satellite operations and mission engineering support in preparation for future nuclear propulsion space flight experiments in novel orbits.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY2027 increased compared to FY2026 by $3.339 million due to Assembly, Integration and Test (AI&T) activities for currently planned small satellite missions and to expand efforts focused on Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) and operations infrastructure for nuclear propulsion space flight beyond Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO).

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continue: - Efforts to demonstrate technologies for future proliferated systems through small satellite experiments. - Design, build, and test of small satellite missions with a focus on capabilities in autonomy, cyber resiliency, and integration of commercial, allied, and government space networks command and control (C2) of a hybrid space architecture. - Engagement with university partners to design, build, test, and operate satellites in support of risk reduction experiments for United States Space Force (USSF) missions and to build an experienced workforce for USSF and defense industrial base employment. Commence: -Early design, ground experiments, and long-lead equipment purchases for several new flight experiment concepts including demonstrations supporting next generation position, navigation, and timing technology, space-to-terrestrial sensing technology, and dynamic space operations and rendezvous and proximity operations. Complete: -Assembly, Integration and Test of the Space Solar Demonstration.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 30.4 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 18.1 |
| FY2027 | Request | 21.4 |

> 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 633834

- [Cislunar Space Situational Awareness](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206616SF/633834/a6) — FY2027 13.5
- Modular Open SatNav Architecture — FY2027 3.4
- Advanced Materials for Spacecraft Resilience — FY2027 3.0
- Modeling and Simulation Tools for Space Applications — FY2027 2.7
- Agile Space Operations Technology — FY2027 2.2
- Manufacturing for Space Systems — FY2027 1.2
- Transformational Technology Development — FY2027 0.0
- Rocket Cargo — FY2027 0.0
- Navigation Technology Satellite 3 (NTS-3) — FY2027 0.0

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 1206616SF project 633834 (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.*