Agile Space Receives SpaceWERX Contract to Deliver MPPCs

Ibadan, 6 March 2024. – In-space propulsion solution provider Agile Space Industries has received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract from SpaceWERX. SpaceWERX is part of the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a part of AFWERX, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Agile was one of 19 company winners of the 2023 SpaceWERX Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) Challenge.

SpaceWERX awarded the contract to Agile for its Mobile Payload Processing Center (MPPC) which will enable the U.S. Government to increase mission effectiveness in remote locations. The MPPC generally provides the ability to create a safe and secure mobile environment for on-demand, tactically responsive launches – where there can be mere hours to prepare and process a payload for launch. Furthermore, integrated fire suppression and chemical washdown are native to the system, making it a highly capable, roomy, versatile and unparalleled system for remote payload processing.

Speaking on the contract, Kara Grubis, Agile’s vice president of Engineering, said, “While we initially designed these mobile units to support rocket engine testing services in the Mojave desert, we’ve found they’re highly adaptable and a natural extension of our core propulsion solutions. We’re grateful and excited to be recognized by SpaceWERX for our ability to reimagine what’s possible, bringing novel solutions to the space industry and beyond.”

In addition to the many payload processing needs at remote locations, including existing launch facilities, Agile’s underlying platform can also serve as a mobile test stand, hypergolic decontamination unit, or any other temporary shelter or laboratory required for non-defense purposes. The versatility of the mobile facility also extends to commercial uses as well, serving as a containerized scientific laboratory for medical, research, and educational programs.