Cosmic Shielding Corporation (CSC), a startup specializing in radiation protection technologies for space applications, has been awarded a Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) contract by the U.S. Space Force. The award aims to fast-track the deployment of CSC’s proprietary Plasteel™ shielding and Electron Transport Layer (ETL) technologies into operational defense space systems.
Strategic Context: Hardening Space Assets Against Radiation
As military reliance on space-based assets intensifies—from ISR satellites to missile warning constellations—so does the need for robust protection against harsh orbital environments. High-energy particles from solar storms and cosmic rays can degrade or destroy sensitive electronics on orbit. Traditional approaches rely on heavy metal shielding or expensive rad-hard components with long lead times.
CSC’s approach combines additive manufacturing with nanocomposite materials and AI-driven radiation modeling to offer lighter, faster-deployable alternatives. Their flagship material, Plasteel™, is a polymer-based composite with embedded radiation-absorbing particles designed to shield electronics without compromising weight budgets—critical in both LEO and GEO missions.
TACFI Program: Bridging SBIR Innovation to Fielded Capability
The Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) initiative is managed by AFWERX under the U.S. Department of the Air Force’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. It provides up to $3 million in matching funds to help transition promising Phase II SBIR technologies into operational use by securing matching private or government investment.
In CSC’s case, the TACFI award will support further development and integration of its ETL technology—a modular add-on layer that mitigates electron charging effects in spacecraft—and expand production capacity for its Plasteel™ shielding solutions. The funding also enables accelerated testing and qualification cycles for upcoming military satellite programs.
Technology Overview: Plasteel™ and ETL Capabilities
Plasteel™: This proprietary nanocomposite material is engineered through additive manufacturing processes that embed metallic and ceramic nanoparticles within a polymer matrix. The result is a lightweight yet effective barrier against gamma rays, protons, electrons, and secondary particle cascades common in high-radiation orbits.
- Mass savings of up to 60% compared to traditional aluminum shielding
- Customizable geometries via FDM/FFF printing techniques
- Optimized using AI-based Monte Carlo simulations for specific mission profiles
Electron Transport Layer (ETL): Designed as an external surface coating or internal layer within spacecraft structures, ETL mitigates internal charging events caused by trapped electrons in Van Allen belts—especially critical for MEO/GEO satellites where such effects can cause system failures.
DOD Applications and Integration Pathways
The awarded TACFI contract aligns with broader Department of Defense priorities around resilient space architectures under contested conditions. As adversaries develop counterspace capabilities—including directed-energy weapons and anti-satellite missiles—the survivability of U.S. platforms hinges not only on maneuverability but also on passive hardening strategies like those offered by CSC.
Potential integration pathways include:
- MEO/GEO SATCOM platforms: Enhancing survivability of strategic comms nodes
- Persistent ISR satellites: Protecting EO/IR payloads from degradation over multi-year missions
- Tactical LEO constellations: Enabling low-cost hardening at scale across proliferated architectures like SDA’s Tracking Layer
- Cislunar & lunar missions: Supporting Artemis-aligned DOD payloads facing elevated GCR exposure beyond Earth’s magnetosphere
A Growing Ecosystem Around Radiation-Hardened Innovation
The award underscores growing interest across DoD innovation channels—AFWERX, SpaceWERX, DIU—in dual-use commercial technologies that can be rapidly adapted for defense needs in space. CSC previously participated in Hyperspace Challenge cohorts and maintains partnerships with university labs specializing in radiation physics.
The company plans to use part of its TACFI funding to scale up production at its Colorado facility while pursuing additional flight validation opportunities through NASA CubeSat missions or hosted payloads aboard commercial buses contracted by DoD primes such as Lockheed Martin or Northrop Grumman.
