A Huntsville defense company has been chosen for a U.S. Space Force program designed to carry out orbital experiments aboard modular satellites.

A modular satellite is one where plug and play components make it easier for repairs or upgrages.

Astrion is one of 12 firms nationwide that will be bidding on contracts under Space Test Experiments Program 2.0 (STEP), a 10-year, multiple-award procurement with a ceiling of $237 million, the company recently announced.

“We’re proud to partner with USSF as it accelerates space innovation to advance our national security objectives,” said Dan Benjamin, Astrion’s executive vice president and general manager for space. “We look forward to this opportunity to build on our space integration history delivering our extensive experience, bold ideas, and unmatched execution in support of STEP 2.0.”

According to U.S. Space Force’s Space Test Program office, the aim of STEP 2.0 is to, “accelerate the development of cutting-edge space technologies” for the Defense Department.

“The DoD Space Test Program will gain measurable value from leveraging industry insights and capabilities to provide proven spacecraft to host the DoD’s next generation of space technologies,” said Space Force Lt. Col. Brian Shimek, Space Systems Command director of the Space Test Program.

Astrion and the other contract awardees will bid on task orders to build modular satellites and integrate them with various experimental payloads, enabling USSF to conduct tests on emerging technologies in orbit, the company said.

Space Systems Command is Space Force’s field command that acquires, develops and delivers space capabilities. It manages a $15.6 billion space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense.

The other awardees under STEP 2.0 are:

• Blue Canyon Technologies, Lafayette, Colo.
• General Atomics, San Diego
• Lockheed Martin Corp., Bethesda, Md.
• Loft Orbital Federal, Golden, Colo.
• Lynk Global, Falls Church, Va.
• Orbit Systems, Mendota Heights, Minn.
• Spire Global Subsidiary, Tysons, Va.
• Turion Space Corp., Irvine, Calif.
• Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Irvine, Calif.
• Utah State University Space Dynamics Lab, North Logan, Utah
• York Space Systems, Denver