BELLEVUE, Wash. - Pulse Space in Bellevue, Wash., has received a $40 million award from the U.S. Space Force to advance its laser-based remote power and space situational awareness (SSA) technologies, marking the largest contract in the company's history.

The technology development award reflects the Space Force's continued use of commercial acquisition pathways to accelerate the development of emerging space capabilities. According to the company, the effort will support maturation of its laser-based remote power and SSA technologies.

Although the company has not disclosed the program's technical architecture, remote power transfer and space situational awareness both rely heavily on advanced electro-optical technologies, high-performance embedded processing, and precision control systems. These technologies increasingly draw on ruggedized computing platforms, radiation-tolerant electronics, and sophisticated sensing hardware capable of operating in the harsh space environment.

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Resilient space tech

The award also highlights growing interest in technologies intended to support more capable and resilient satellite architectures. Remote power transfer, precision electro-optics and space situational awareness all present demanding engineering requirements spanning embedded electronics, thermal management, radiation tolerance and precision pointing.

One of the primary engineering challenges associated with space-based laser systems is meeting strict size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) requirements while delivering sufficient optical power for mission operations. Satellite payloads must integrate power electronics, laser sources, control systems and optical assemblies within tightly constrained mass and volume budgets while maintaining high reliability throughout extended missions.

Space-based electro-optical systems also must operate in an environment that presents significant thermal and radiation challenges. Unlike terrestrial systems, spacecraft cannot rely on convective cooling, requiring engineers to dissipate heat through conductive structures and radiative surfaces. At the same time, electronic components must withstand total ionizing dose (TID) exposure and single-event effects (SEEs) that can degrade performance or disrupt operations over the life of a mission.

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Laser-based space systems also demand exceptional pointing accuracy. Even minor structural distortion due to thermal expansion can affect optical alignment, making mechanical stability and precise control important design considerations for long-duration operations.

Beyond the technology itself, the award underscores the Space Force's continued emphasis on accelerating commercial innovation through alternative acquisition mechanisms. STRATFI agreements are intended to help transition promising technologies from development into operational programs by combining government funding with private investment, allowing emerging companies to mature capabilities more rapidly than through traditional acquisition pathways.

For suppliers across the aerospace electronics ecosystem, the contract reflects continued demand for technologies that enable next-generation space missions, including radiation-tolerant embedded computing, high-performance optical systems, advanced power electronics, thermal management solutions, and test and measurement equipment for qualifying space-bound hardware.

"This historic $40 million award is a defining moment for Pulse Space, and I am exceptionally proud of our team for making it happen," said Karl Stedman, CEO of Pulse Space. "We are honored to partner with the United States Space Force to mature our laser-based technologies and are proud to share this massive step forward with our investors and shareholders. Pulse's technical development platform is helping pave the way toward that future."