Agile Space Industries (Agile), a leading provider of in-space propulsion solutions, has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract by SpaceWERX, the U.S. Space Force's innovation hub and a division of AFWERX and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Agile emerged as one of 19 victors in the 2023 SpaceWERX Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) Challenge from a competitive field of over 300 applicants, competing for a total of $34 million in investment awards. This accolade was granted for Agile's development of the Mobile Payload Processing Center (MPPC), an innovation aimed at bolstering mission readiness in remote settings for the U.S. government.
The MPPC initiative was conceived to establish a rapidly deployable, secure, and environmentally controlled mobile facility for tactical launch preparations, capable of setup in hours to meet urgent payload processing demands.
This modular facility, encapsulated within a 40-foot high cube shipping container, can be mounted on a flatbed truck and expanded to over 500 square feet of electrostatically safe workspace within an ISO 7 classified cleanroom. It also boasts integrated fire suppression and chemical safety features, presenting a versatile and unmatched solution for remote satellite payload preparations.
Capable of handling a wide range of payload sizes, from standard ESPA to larger than ESPA Grande configurations, the MPPC meets a broad spectrum of the industry's needs. It allows multiple operators to collaboratively work on sizable payloads within a clean, secure environment.
Kara Grubis, Vice President of Engineering at Agile, highlighted the company's commitment to pioneering solutions for the commercial and governmental sectors, including mobile units initially designed for desert-based rocket engine testing. Grubis emphasized the adaptability and potential of these units to serve beyond their original purpose, contributing novel capabilities to the space sector and allied fields.
Agile's MPPC is not limited to space applications but is adaptable for various uses, including mobile test stands, decontamination units, and temporary laboratories or shelters for non-defense activities. Its utility spans to commercial domains, offering a portable scientific lab for medical, research, and educational endeavors.
Capt. George Eberwine, the Space Safari program office's project manager and the technical point of contact for the MPPC project, praised the initiative for embodying the TacRS concept. He underscored the need for innovative, adaptable solutions like the MPPC to maintain strategic advantages in space operations and beyond.
