U.S. Space Force Relaunches Commercial Accelerator Program for Software Innovation
The U.S. Space Force has relaunched its commercial software laboratory, now named the BMC3I TAP Lab, after an extensive overhaul. This initiative aims to create a more effective pipeline for integrating innovative commercial software into operational use within the Space Force. The previous iteration, the SDA TAP Lab, focused on Space Domain Awareness Tools, Applications, and Processing and ran three-month programs. The new BMC3I TAP Lab has a broader focus on battle management, command, control, communications, and space intelligence capabilities, aligning with the Space Force’s Kronos program. Participants will now engage in a staged approach expected to last about a year, involving pitching technology for specific focus areas, code development, and opportunities to secure Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contracts. The lab will not directly fund participants; instead, funding will come from SpaceWERX, the Space Force’s innovation arm, through pre-coordinated SBIR calls.