EL SEGUNDO, California, — The U.S. Space Force has awarded its first operational contracts under the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) programme to six companies providing satellite tracking and space surveillance capabilities during military crises and periods of increased demand.
The selected companies are Anduril, LeoLabs, Slingshot Aerospace and InTrack of the United States, EOS Space Systems of Australia, and NorthStar Earth & Space of Canada. The contracts were awarded through the ACCESS framework, used by Joint Commercial Operations (JCO) to procure commercial data and data-fusion services.
Space Surveillance Capabilities
The contracts focus on Space Domain Awareness (SDA), including tracking satellites, monitoring orbital manoeuvres, and identifying space debris and spacecraft breakups. The companies will provide commercial data and services to support JCO activities during routine operations and periods of increased demand.
CASR is modelled on the U.S. Air Force’s Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF), which uses commercial aircraft to supplement military airlift during national emergencies. Developed since 2022, CASR allows the military to expand its use of commercial space capabilities without owning and maintaining all the required infrastructure.
The programme has three operational levels: day-to-day operations for routine monitoring, priority operations during regional conflicts, and full CASR execution during major international crises or war.
From Pilot Phase to Operational Contracts
A pilot programme began in 2025, when four space domain awareness companies received 90-day contracts worth a combined $1.1 million. The Space Force subsequently conducted wargames and training exercises to test the integration of commercial data and services into military operations.
The new contracts move CASR into its operational phase for space domain awareness. All six companies already work with the Joint Commercial Operations Cell, which integrates commercial space data and shares it with U.S. military and international partners.
Lt. Col. Brandon Galindo said operators consider these companies trusted sources when additional tracking is required, including after an on-orbit event that generates debris.
Col. Timothy Trimailo, director of the Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office, said the programme integrates established commercial capabilities into government systems when additional capacity is needed. The selection process assessed commercial offerings, readiness and integration pathways.
The financial values of the new contracts were not disclosed, although officials described the initial amounts as relatively low. Funding may be adjusted as combatant commands identify demand.
Future Expansion
The vendor pool remains open to additional companies with proven, trusted capabilities. The Space Force is also evaluating future CASR applications in satellite communications, launch services, and spacecraft telemetry, tracking and command.
The programme aims to strengthen U.S. space surveillance by combining commercial and government systems. Space Systems Command plans to apply lessons from the initial contracts to future commercial integration. Interested companies can contact the Space Force through its established industry engagement channels.
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