The demand for satellite services from low Earth orbit, which is approximately 1,200 miles above Earth, has increased in recent years from both the defense and commercial sectors. However, the demand for these capabilities from higher altitudes, such as geostationary orbit, is on the rise. The Commercial Space Office (CSCO) of the Space Systems Command is an example of such a customer.
On September 20, 2024, Richard Knisely, the Head of CSCO, announced that the US Space Force is studying a new market to capitalize on commercial satellites that can move in the geostationary orbit.
Space Systems command awarded Starfish Space a $37.5 million contract in May to showcase its capacity to service and maneuver spacecraft in orbit. Otter, a series of satellites that the organization builds and manages, is capable of providing support to other spacecraft. Otter has the ability to dispose of obsolete satellites or provide additional thrust or propulsion to improve its mission, contingent upon the requirements of its customers. The Otter spacecraft will be capable of autonomous rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD), and will be compatible with a diverse array of clients, including those that were not originally designed or configured for docking.
Colonel Knisely stated at the Air, Space, and Cyber Conference of the Air Force Association (AFA) that his organization recently solicited input from industry representatives regarding a program known as the “Maneuverable Geostationary Orbit (GEO) Station.” The objective of this initiative is to establish a supplier collective that is capable of competing for contracts.
Knisely’s Commercial SATCOM Office implemented a comparable methodology for its Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) communications initiative in 2023. The Pentagon agencies and services were able to capitalize on commercial satellite communications by participating in a program that selected over a dozen companies.
Knisely informed reporters that the Maneuverable GEO will include satellite communication service providers, as well as other tasks such as positioning, navigation, scheduling, and environmental monitoring.
This will not be an experiment. The CSCO office will use it as a genuine acquisition mechanism; however, it will be accessible to all members of the Department of Defense. The majority of contracts issued through PLEO are for various agencies, including combatant commands. According to Knisely, “So when people come with their requirements, we can kind of formulate the best way forward.”
Knisely further stated that the objective is to use the capabilities that are already in existence, which is a fundamental principle of the Commercial Space Office and the broader U.S. Space Force’s endeavors to interact with the commercial market. The Space Force should adhere to the strategy of ” using what we have, buying what we can, and building only what we must,” as emphasized by officials such as Frank Calvelli, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, who have highlighted the cost and time required to construct new satellites.
Another dimension of this strategy is the maneuverable geostationary orbit, which concentrates on satellites that can move in orbit. The Space Force leadership has expressed interest in this capability, but the private industry is only beginning to comprehend it. The ability to be dynamic in orbit can help satellites avoid hostile attacks, approach objects to assess threats, and more.
“This will be a turning point for us in the military because you won’t be on a static orbit—you’ll be able to move from one point to another, which is especially critical in the event of regional or national war, so we can maneuver more of our assets and be more flexible for the warfighters,” Knisely said.
The Space Force’s intention to augment its investments in space maneuvers, which have been relatively modest thus far, is also indicated by its engagement with the commercial market. In fiscal year 2025, the service requested a mere $14 million for research in space mobility and logistics. However, it subsequently provided strategic funding to the startup Starfish Space to launch and test a satellite “jetpack” that is capable of docking with another satellite and maneuvering it into orbit.
However, the commercial market for space maneuvers is still relatively new and somewhat questionable, as both the Space Force and industry have expressed skepticism regarding the potential for satellite servicing technology to develop into a sustainable business model.
Knisely, on the other hand, expressed confidence that space maneuvering will be economically viable in certain scenarios and that the Maneuverable GEO will enable his department to “innovate.”
“In the areas we’re looking at in the short term, there are a number of companies that are progressing and achieving very good results,” he said.
In 2025, Knisely stated that the Maneuverable GEO aims to issue a contract.