# Free-Flyer Spacecraft Missions — Program Element 1206864SF

**Program element:** 1206864SF  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force  
**Appropriation:** 3620F — RDT&E, Space Force  
**Budget Activity:** 6 — RDT&E Management Support  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206864SF

## Summary

U.S. Space Force requests $29.6M in FY2027, sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 29.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 28.4 |
| FY2027 | Request | 29.6 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 30.7 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 31.1 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 31.7 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 32.3 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 29.6 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 29.6 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 29.6 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 29.6 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 662617 | Free-Flyer Spacecraft Missions | 29.6 | 28.4 | 29.6 | +4% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 662617 — Free-Flyer Spacecraft Missions

Space Systems Command is executing the Department of War (DoW) Space Test Program (Project 662617) through the Space Access and the Combat Power Enterprise. As a result, the United States Space Force will advance the Department's space capabilities development through institutional processes, principled public servants; space-minded warfighters; and bold and collaborative problem solvers. This program falls within the Science and Technology (S&T) and Test & Evaluation (T&E) mission area which provides the S&T initiatives, demonstrations, experiments, and studies towards developing next-generation space capabilities. The T&E mission area provides all efforts required to establish and operate the test infrastructure for USSF capabilities. Program interdependencies include: Defense Research Sciences (0601102SF); Major T&E Investments - Space (1206759SF); Small Business Innovation Research (1205502SF); Space Advanced Tech Dev / Demo (1206616SF); Space Innov Intg & Rapid Tech Dev (1203174SF); Space Rapid Capabilities Office (1206857SF); Space Science and Technology (1206310SF); Space Systems Prototype Transition (1206427SF); Space Technology (1206601SF); Space Test and Evaluation (1202051SF); University Research Initiatives (0601103SF). The Department of the Air Force (DAF), as the Department's designated Space Test Program (STP) Executive Agent (EA), provides a critical multi-user space program that is essential for national security. America secures peace through strength, and that strength is built on the unyielding technological edge in space forged by strategic investments in the STP. As the Department of War's (DoW) primary gateway for space experimentation, STP is a direct investment in deterring adversaries and ensuring the nation's space superiority. STP provides the primary spaceflight capability to demonstrate, evaluate, and accelerate risk-reducing and advanced technologies in operational space environments. STP is responsible for mission design, spacecraft acquisition, integration, launch, and on-orbit operations for emerging technologies from the entire DoW research community, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, National Reconnaissance Office, and other agencies. By centrally financing these critical mission elements, STP offers the most cost-effective way to flight-test new space systems, technologies, and concepts.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payload Integration | 16.1 | 16.5 | 18.7 |
| Launch Vehicle and Launch Services | 12.0 | 9.9 | 9.3 |
| On-Orbit Satellite Operations | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.6 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 1206864SF (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="1206864SF")`.

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