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Space Force awards $287M to Sphinx Defense for ESS mission-planning software as SES links Starlab for space-station connectivity

The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command awarded Sphinx Defense a $287 million Other Transaction Authority agreement to develop and complete prototype mission-planning application software for Phase 3 of the Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) system. Separately, SES Space & Defense announced a connectivity collaboration with Starlab for space-station communications.

Discovered 2026-07-27T12:05:45.251446-07:00 | 2026-07-27T12:05:45.251446-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The $287M award targets mission-planning ground software for ESS Phase 3, directly supporting command-and-control of U.S. nuclear forces and strategic SATCOM capabilities.
The ESS work underscores the Space Force’s focus on software modernization and prototyping in the ground segment—an area that can drive long-cycle procurement, integration timelines, and systems interoperability.
SES’s Starlab connectivity deal signals continued investment in space-station comms infrastructure, which will affect how operators integrate commercial communications with mission architectures.

Reported By

ssc.spaceforce.mil satnews.com Air & Space Forces Mag Via Satellite SpaceNews.com insidedefense.com