ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers are asking industry are asking industry to develop sensors, computers, and software algorithms to detect and track objects in space between high-altitude geosynchronous orbit and the moon -- so-called cislunar space.
Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., issued a program solicitation (DARPA-PS-26-01) last Thursday for the Track at Big Distances with Track-Before-Detect (TBD2) program.
The idea is to increase the safety of commercial and civilian space traffic between Earth and the moon by developing sensors and digital signal processing technologies to detect and track faint objects at gigameter distances; use available onboard processing; and detect and track cislunar objects of interest within hours.
Researchers want industry to advance the state of the art for signal processing algorithms to combine with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or quasi-COTS optical sensors and focal plane arrays (FPAs). The project seeks to extend space situational awareness beyond geosynchronous orbit to cislunar space.
12 times the detection range
Today's space situational awareness primarily focuses on objects in geosynchronous orbit or closer, researchers explain. Extending space situational awareness to cislunar space requires sensing and signal processing able to handle volumes of space about 1,200 times greater than what's available today.
TBD2 seeks to move the sensor into space at the Sun-Earth Lagrangian point 1 (SEL1) to negate any blinding of the sensor by the sun and enable a continuous view of most of cislunar space with one sensor. This will require new kinds of digital signal processing algorithms to detect faint objects while minimizing processing time such that all cislunar space can be scanned within 12 hours.
TBD2 will also develop two space payload designs that optimize combining signal processing with sensors and space computers not only to cover cislunar space, but also zoom-in on certain cislunar areas to detect and track 1-meter objects that could endanger military and civil space operations.
Tell me more about cislunar space and why it's important ...
- Cislunar space refers to the region between the Earth and the moon, extending from Earth's surface to around 238,866 miles. It's crucial for future space exploration, serving as a staging area for missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond. With increasing interest in lunar mining, space stations, and potential lunar bases, cislunar space offers opportunities for scientific research, technology development, and resource use. The region also plays a key role in communications, satellite operations, and space traffic management. As countries and private companies invest in lunar activities, establishing a sustainable presence in cislunar space is vital for long-term space exploration and economic growth.
From industry, DARPA wants three deliverables: low-complexity algorithm software; one space payload for optics and sensors; and one space payload for space computers for placement in the SEL1 area of space located about 932,100 miles from Earth in the direction of the sun. If successful, TBD2 will develop enabling technologies to improve early warning for defense and civilian agencies.
Companies interested should submit abstracts no later than 20 Nov. 2025 to the DARPA BAA Tool online at https://baa.darpa.mil. Those submitting promising abstracts may be invited to give oral presentations.
Email questions or concerns to DARPA at [email protected]. More information is online at https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/1bc7be1d806a4ceeaad39b64ae0ae224/view.
