4 minute read•Updated 11:58 AM EDT, Sun March 30, 2025
Gravitics, a space infrastructure company best known for their plans to develop large commercial space station modules, has secured a major strategic partnership with the U.S. Space Force to extend its technology into the national security domain.
Gravitics has been awarded a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) agreement from SpaceWERX, the innovation and commercial engagement arm of the U.S. Space Force.
The award, valued at up to $60 million, will support the development and demonstration of a new platform called Orbital Carrier, designed to enable tactically responsive space operations.
The STRATFI agreement includes up to $30 million in government funding, matched by an additional $30 million in private investment. It represents one of the most significant validations to date of Gravitics’ approach to dual-use space hardware; leveraging commercial station module technology for defense-related space applications.
“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.” - Colin Doughan, CEO of Gravitics. “
A Rapid Response Platform for a New Era of Space Conflict
Gravitics describes the Orbital Carrier as a space-based logistics and deployment hub; a platform that can carry multiple maneuverable space vehicles and release them when and where needed in orbit. This type of infrastructure is designed to answer growing concerns about orbital threats and satellite survivability, giving operators the ability to react quickly to changing tactical situations in space.
The concept aligns with broader military goals to reduce reliance on ground-based launch schedules, which can be slow and subject to weather, logistics, and geopolitical constraints. By pre-positioning assets in orbit, military forces could respond to emerging threats or opportunities within hours rather than weeks or months.
Gravitics says the STRATFI funding will enable the company to move from concept to demonstration, building out the Orbital Carrier architecture and integrating it into the Space Force’s long-term space operations framework.
Expanding Beyond Commercial Stations
While Gravitics remains committed to its original vision of building large modules for commercial space stations, the company has actively pursued adjacent markets, including national security and in-space logistics, where its large pressurized structures and systems can offer unique value.
The company’s entry into the defense arena began with a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract awarded by SpaceWERX in April 2024. That early-phase contract helped evaluate the application of Gravitics’ station module technologies to defense use cases, though few details were made public at the time.
The STRATFI award marks a major escalation of that relationship, transitioning Gravitics into a potential defense-industrial partner capable of delivering orbital infrastructure to the U.S. military.
NASA and Axiom Space Partnership
Even as it pivots toward national security markets, Gravitics is maintaining strong ties to civil and commercial space partners.
In June 2024, the company signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to support validation and verification of large-diameter modules, in the 4 to 8-meter range, for use in future commercial space stations.
Then in July, Gravitics announced a $125 million contract with Axiom Space, the Houston-based leader in commercial station development. Under the agreement, Gravitics will provide a “utility module” for Axiom’s upcoming private space station, though the timeline and technical specifications remain undisclosed.
One of Eight STRATFI Winners
Gravitics was among eight companies selected for STRATFI awards by SpaceWERX. The STRATFI program is designed to bridge the so-called “valley of death” between initial research funding and full-scale deployment, helping innovative small businesses scale up to meet operational defense needs.
With the Orbital Carrier, Gravitics aims to position itself at the crossroads of commercial innovation and national security resilience; an increasingly important intersection as space becomes more contested, congested, and critical to U.S. defense strategy.
About Gravitics
Founded to develop next-generation space station infrastructure, Gravitics specializes in large-diameter pressurized modules designed for long-duration human operations in orbit. The company is headquartered in Kent, Washington, and has quickly become a key player in the evolving ecosystem of commercial and dual-use space infrastructure.
