Space Enterprise Consortium Awards $50 Million Tetra-5 Contract to Orion Space Solutions

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) recently awarded a $50 million contract to Orion Space Solutions for the Tetra-5 program. Tetra 5 is centered on resolving the obstacle of refueling in space and will play a critical role in extending the lifetime of spacecraft already in orbit. Three satellites will be developed as part of the program and will be stationed more than 300 kilometers at Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO).

By advancing an innovative solution in refueling capabilities, Orion Space Solutions will also contribute to reducing the significant costs associated with replacing spacecraft.

“Orion Space Solutions is excited to prime the development of the Tetra-5 solution,” said William Armijo, Orion Space Solutions’ Tetra-5 program manager. “Orion and our teammates Hera Space, Booz Allen Hamilton, and SCOUT have deep expertise in developing this type of mission, including the bus, hardware, sensors, software, and digital twin capabilities.”

The agreement marks a definitive win for cutting-edge innovation in space technology, as the company based in Louisville, Colorado, is a small, non-traditional defense contractor.

One of SpEC’s key objectives is to facilitate the inclusion of non-traditional defense contractors in the government contracting sphere. By providing non-traditional companies the opportunity to compete on Space Force agreements, SpEC members such as Orion Space Solutions can provide a fresh perspective on the space industry’s most pressing challenges.

About SpEC

In 2017, Space Systems Command established SpEC to connect the Department of Defense with a network of innovators and creators across the most sought-after emerging technology fields as they research and develop space-related prototypes. National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL) was awarded the management of SpEC in 2021 to expedite the contracting between government and industry, putting advanced technology into the industry swiftly.