Stell Engineering, Inc. has been awarded an SBIR Phase III contract with the Space Rapid Capabilities Office valued at $5.8 million to enhance and deploy the company's advanced systems integration software. The 24-month contract will fund Space RCO-tailored enhancements to Stell's core software platform and establish a multi-layered secure deployment infrastructure designed specifically for the organization's operational needs. The contract represents a significant advancement in how the Department of Defense manages complex system-of-systems integration for space missions. Stell's software platform addresses critical challenges in requirements management, interface coordination, testing protocols, and compliance workflows across hardware, software, and firmware components. This capability becomes increasingly vital as space systems grow more complex and the strategic importance of space operations intensifies.
According to company leadership, the partnership with Space RCO will accelerate Stell's software development while providing the military organization with tools specifically designed for rapid delivery of advanced systems. The contract builds upon previous work conducted through an AFWERX Direct to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract awarded in February 2024, which served Space Systems Command's Assured Access to Space and Space Systems Integration Office programs. The enhanced cybersecurity infrastructure represents another key aspect of the contract, building on Stell's existing work at the Controlled Unclassified Information level to include one-way connections into high-side environments. This security framework ensures that sensitive engineering data and system specifications remain protected while enabling efficient collaboration across defense organizations and supporting contractors.
Stell's mission focuses on ensuring United States capability dominance through accelerated engineering execution of complex systems. The company's platform is already utilized by various defense organizations including Space Systems Command for developing and maintaining interface specifications that enable faster procurement and integration of new launch vehicles, spacecraft, and payloads. The Phase III contract represents the maturation of this technology from research and development to operational deployment within critical national security space programs. Multiple organizations have supported Stell's development efforts, including team members at Space Systems Command, SpaceWERX, COMSO, and supporting Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance contractors at ManTech and Alpha Omega Group, LLC. This collaborative approach has been instrumental in advancing the technology from initial concept to operational implementation.
The deployment of Stell's enhanced software platform at Space RCO is expected to significantly improve the speed and reliability of space system development and integration. As space becomes an increasingly contested domain, the ability to rapidly field and integrate advanced technologies provides strategic advantages for national security operations. The contract represents a concrete step toward maintaining technological superiority in space systems engineering and integration capabilities. The software addresses critical challenges that become more pronounced as space systems complexity increases, making this deployment particularly timely given current geopolitical tensions and competition in space operations. The enhanced security infrastructure ensures protection of sensitive data while facilitating necessary collaboration across the defense industrial base, creating a balance between security and efficiency that is essential for modern space programs.
