K2 Space signed a $60 million contract with the U.S. Space Force for the launch of its first Mega Class satellite, under a mission designated Gravitas. The contract is structured as a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award and draws on government funds, SBIR matching funds, and private funds. The satellite is scheduled for launch in February 2026 and will demonstrate Mega Class satellite bus operations in both low Earth orbit and medium Earth orbit. Funding came from six Department of the Air Force organizations, including the Space Development Agency, the Space Test Program, and the Air Force Research Lab.
What it means
The Gravitas mission will carry multiple National Security payloads and place K2 Space among the first commercial companies to demonstrate operations in MEO. The company’s internal manufacturing model covers 75% of satellite components — including reaction wheels, flight computers, and solar arrays — and the company is developing a 20kW electric propulsion system it describes as four times more powerful than the highest-power system previously flown. The K2 bus payload deck measures 3 meters by 3 meters, delivers 10 times more power than any other low-cost bus in its class according to the company, and can stack 10 Mega Class satellites per launch vehicle to LEO. Payload integration is scheduled for May 2025, with qualification testing running June through September 2025.
The contract was executed through SpaceWERX, the Space Force’s innovation unit aligned under the Air Force Research Lab since August 2021. SpaceWERX has executed 1,106 contracts worth more than $897 million since that alignment. K2 Space, founded by former SpaceX engineers, has raised $72 million in venture capital to date from investors including Altimeter Capital and First Round Capital.
Key facts
- Contract value: $60 million (STRATFI structure combining government, SBIR matching, and private funds)
- Mission name: Gravitas; satellite class: Mega Class
- Scheduled launch: February 2026; orbits demonstrated: LEO and MEO
- Payload integration: May 2025; qualification testing: June–September 2025
- K2 Space manufactures 75% of satellite components in-house, according to the company
- Electric propulsion system in development: 20kW, described by the company as 4x more powerful than any system previously flown
- K2 bus stacks 10 Mega Class satellites per launch vehicle; payload deck: 3m × 3m
- Funding organizations: Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power PEO, Space Development Agency, Space Warfighting Acquisition Delta, DoD Space Test Program, Space Force National Space Test and Training Complex, Air Force Research Lab
- K2 Space venture capital raised: $72 million; investors include Altimeter Capital and First Round Capital
- SpaceWERX annual budget: $457 million; contracts since August 2021: 1,106 worth more than $897 million
Source: K2 Space news release (PR Newswire)