Gravitics wins sole-source contract to build 'aircraft carrier in space'

The U.S. Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded Gravitics Inc. a firm‑fixed‑price contract worth $30 million to design, build, integrate, and flight‑test a minimum viable product “orbital carrier.”

Aircraft Carrier in Space

Like an aircraft carrier, the Orbital Carrier is designed to pre-position multiple maneuverable space vehicles capable of delivering a rapid response to threats in orbit.

Gravitics says the carrier will provide the U.S. Space Force with unprecedented flexibility and speed for in-space operations, significantly enhancing the nation's space defense posture.

The carrier is designed to rapidly deploy or host satellites and other assets in orbit, serving as a "pre-positioned launch pad in space," Gravitics said in a company press release. Think of it as an aircraft carrier in orbit.

Contract Objectives

The recent contract award will culminate in a demonstration launch of an unclassified Mission Vehicle to a designated orbit.

The contract was awarded to Gravitics as a sole‑source acquisition. Under its terms, Gravitics will develop a delivery rocket capable of transporting the Mission Vehicle from launch to orbit, completing the full “launch‑to‑orbit” cycle in a single flight. No further details about the Mission Vehicle’s payload or specific orbital parameters have been released.

Work will be performed at Gravitics’ facilities in Marysville, Wash., with the final flight demonstration slated for no later than Dec. 31, 2028.

Funding Timeline

At the time of the award, the Department of War is obligating $6.6 million of Fiscal Year 2025 research and development funds to the project. The remaining funds will be drawn from subsequent appropriations as the program progresses through design, manufacturing, integration and test phases.

The SSC, headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, oversees the contract.