In a move to accelerate innovation in space technology, the Space Development Agency (SDA) has chosen 19 companies to participate in its Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated LEO (HALO) program. This initiative aims to rapidly onboard new contractors for defense demonstration missions, with each selected company receiving an initial $20,000 to cover administrative expenses.

The HALO program is designed to support the SDA's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a massive planned satellite constellation in low Earth orbit that will provide missile tracking and advanced communications capabilities for the Department of Defense (DOD). The selected companies will compete for future prototype missions, including the Tranche 2 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T2DES), which will feature around 20 satellites configured into several variants.

The program's awardees include venture-backed startups like Apex, Capella Space, and Firefly Aerospace, as well as established players like Airbus and SpaceX. These companies will have the opportunity to bid on future contracts, with the SDA anticipating multiple awards to vendors in the HALO program.

This development marks a significant step forward in the SDA's mission to enhance national security through advanced space capabilities, and demonstrates the agency's commitment to innovation and collaboration with the private sector.