Slingshot Aerospace to Develop New Electronic Interference Analytics Tool for Space Force

Austin-headquartered Slingshot Aerospace has been tasked to develop a new analytics tool that would spot likely sources of electronic interference on the ground under a $2 million deal with the Space Force.

The contract is funded by the Space Systems Command’s commercially augmented space inter-networked operations or “CASINO” program, which seeks new military applications for the latest space technology, SpaceNews reported Thursday.

CASINO will use telemetry data available from commercial satellites in LEO. The SSC expects Slingshot to come up with a prototype that utilizes proliferated LEO mega-constellations to determine and mitigate radio frequency and GPS interference sources, which could interfere with America’s space assets.

Melanie Stricklan, CEO and co-founder of Slingshot Aerospace, said the company was selected by the Space Force’s Space Enterprise Consortium for the job. She explained that the contract calls for the development of a data analytics tool that uses GPS telemetry data from commercial LEO constellations identify RF hazards on the ground.

Stricklan explained that the goal is to use data already generated by existing spacecraft global navigation satellite systems’ sensors to better understand the electromagnetic operational environment. The envisioned system will automate manual data exploitation techniques to deliver finished user-friendly products at low latencies, she added.

Slingshot won the contract in June 2021 when the Space Enterprise Consortium competitively bid out the project.