ExLabs Secures Space Force Contract for Modular Autonomous Spacecraft Platform

California-based startup ExLabs has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Space Force to develop an autonomous and reconfigurable spacecraft platform capable of supporting a range of on-orbit missions. The project aims to enhance the U.S. military’s ability to rapidly deploy responsive space assets using modular hardware and AI-driven autonomy.

Contract Overview and Strategic Objectives

ExLabs announced on May 30 that it had secured a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the U.S. Space Force under the auspices of the Space Systems Command (SSC). While financial terms were not disclosed publicly, Phase III SBIR contracts typically involve follow-on funding for technologies with demonstrated potential in earlier phases.

The contract focuses on developing ExLabs’ “XVE” platform—a modular spacecraft bus designed for autonomous reconfiguration in orbit. The system is intended to support multiple mission types without requiring bespoke satellite designs or launch-specific integration timelines. This aligns with the Department of Defense’s growing emphasis on Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS), which seeks to field space capabilities within days or even hours of emerging operational needs.

XVE Platform: A Modular Approach to On-Orbit Mission Agility

The XVE (short for Exoform Vehicle Environment) platform is designed as an adaptable spacecraft core that can be outfitted with mission-specific payloads before launch or even modified post-launch via robotic servicing or modular docking. According to ExLabs CEO Rob Meyerson—formerly president of Blue Origin—the system leverages AI-driven autonomy and coordinated swarms of small spacecraft to perform tasks such as ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), asset inspection, refueling support, and potentially active defense against hostile satellites.

Key features of the XVE architecture include:

• Modular Payload Bays: Allowing rapid integration of sensors or mission modules.
• Autonomous Reconfiguration: AI software enables vehicles to adapt their behavior based on mission context without ground intervention.
• Swarms and Constellations: Designed for collaborative operation among multiple units using mesh networking protocols.
• In-Space Servicing Compatibility: Interfaces support robotic manipulation or docking with other platforms.

This approach reflects broader trends in space warfare doctrine that prioritize resilience through disaggregation—dispersing capabilities across many smaller nodes rather than relying on large monolithic satellites vulnerable to attack.

Tactical Implications for USSF and SDA Operations

The U.S. Space Force has increasingly prioritized responsive launch capabilities and orbital flexibility amid rising threats from adversaries like China and Russia who are fielding anti-satellite weapons and jamming systems. The XVE platform could serve as a key enabler for TacRS concepts by allowing pre-positioned assets or rapid-deployable kits that can assume ISR or comms relay roles within hours of tasking.

The project may also align with efforts by the Space Development Agency (SDA) to build proliferated low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations under its National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA). While SDA’s focus is primarily on missile warning/tracking and secure communications via standardized buses like those from York Space Systems or Blue Canyon Technologies, ExLabs’ approach introduces greater autonomy at the edge—a capability that could reduce reliance on ground control centers during contested operations.

A Growing Ecosystem Around In-Orbit Autonomy

The award places ExLabs among a growing cohort of companies developing next-generation orbital platforms that emphasize autonomy, modularity, and rapid deployment. Comparable initiatives include:

• Northrop Grumman’s MEV/OSAM programs: Focused on satellite servicing using robotic arms.
• Astra’s Astra Satellite Bus: Aimed at quick-turnaround LEO missions with plug-and-play payloads.
• DARPA’s Blackjack program: Exploring resilient LEO constellations with edge processing capabilities.

Meyerson noted that ExLabs’ team includes veterans from NASA JPL, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Blue Origin, Apple AI teams, and other advanced R&D environments—suggesting strong cross-domain expertise in both aerospace hardware and machine learning systems engineering.

Looking Ahead: Testing Roadmap and Deployment Scenarios

The company plans initial flight testing of its XVE demonstrator vehicle in late 2025 aboard a commercial rideshare mission. This will validate key subsystems including autonomous navigation software, payload integration frameworks, inter-vehicle communications protocols, and thermal/power management under real orbital conditions.

If successful, follow-on deployments could involve constellation-scale rollouts supporting missions such as:

• Tactical ISR over theater hotspots
• Spectrum monitoring in contested RF environments
• Dormant “ready kits” parked in LEO awaiting activation
• Cargo delivery between orbital platforms via docking modules

No details have yet been released regarding specific DoD customers beyond SSC involvement; however, given current Pentagon interest in dynamic space architectures—especially following Chinese Shijian-21 maneuvers—interest across Combatant Commands is likely high.

Conclusion: A Tactical Edge Through Orbital Agility

The ExLabs contract underscores shifting priorities within U.S. military space strategy—from static satellites toward agile systems capable of adapting mid-mission through onboard intelligence and modular design. As threats proliferate across all orbital regimes—from kinetic interceptors to cyber intrusions—the ability to rapidly reconfigure assets may prove decisive in future conflicts where space superiority must be maintained dynamically rather than pre-planned years ahead.

If ExLabs can deliver a scalable solution combining autonomy with hardware flexibility at affordable cost points—something many legacy primes have struggled with—it may carve out a significant niche within DoD procurement pipelines focused on speed-to-space capability delivery over traditional acquisition cycles.