Rhea Space Activity Revolutionizes Military Satellite Operations With Autonomous Navigation Software

In a significant breakthrough, Rhea Space Activity, a pioneering Washington, D. C.-based space technology startup, is revolutionizing military satellite operations by adapting NASA’s optical navigation software for use in contested orbital environments. This innovative technology, dubbed Vanguard, aims to mitigate the long-standing vulnerability of satellite reliance on GPS. Under a U. S. Space Force contract, Rhea Space Activity is developing autonomous navigation software that enables spacecraft to determine their position and trajectory without continuous guidance from Earth. This cutting-edge technology, originally developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, utilizes onboard sensors, typically optical cameras, to observe known objects in space and compute the spacecraft’s position and trajectory in real-time. The company’s principal investigator, Jake Singh, a missile system guidance, navigation, and control engineer, recognized the vast military potential of this technology.

By leveraging optical navigation, Rhea Space Activity’s Vanguard project seeks to enhance satellite mobility and resilience in the face of threats ranging from debris to anti-satellite weapons. Rhea Space Activity was among 10 firms selected by the Space Force’s SpaceWERX organization under its Sustained Space Maneuver Challenge, an open competition designed to accelerate technologies that improve satellite operations in contested environments.