The race for dominance in space is accelerating as Gravitics, a rising space startup, has secured a $60 million contract from the US Space Force to develop an orbital carrier—a revolutionary spacecraft designed to deploy satellites directly from orbit.
As reported by Ars Technica, the orbital carrier could significantly enhance the United States’ defense capabilities in space, eliminating the need for traditional rocket launches by providing a pre-positioned deployment platform. The details of the project remain largely undisclosed due to its sensitive military nature, but it is yet another indication of an evolving space arms race.
According to Gravitics officials, the orbital carrier will feature an unpressurized space to house multiple satellites, shielding them from the harsh conditions of space and preserving their batteries and sensitive electronics until deployment. Additionally, this innovative system could offer a cloaking advantage, helping to obscure satellites from adversaries.
CEO Colin Doughan emphasized the carrier’s strategic benefits, stating: “The Orbital Carrier is a game-changer, acting as a pre-positioned launch pad in space. It bypasses traditional launch constraints, enabling space vehicle operators to rapidly select a deployment orbit on demand.”
Beyond the orbital carrier project, Gravitics has also been working with Axiom Space on a pressurized space module, expanding its portfolio in the commercial space sector. However, this latest contract signals a clear pivot toward national defense applications, positioning the company as a key player in securing U.S. space superiority.
“The vision is space superiority,” Doughan told Ars Technica. “We think that vision is very compatible with both a Department of Defense product line as well as a commercial one.”
