Commercial Space Office (COMSO) The US Space Systems Command announced the Access to the Classified Ecosystem for Space initiative (ACES). The program is aimed at accelerating classified information clearance for commercial space companies and creates a mechanism for integrating private technologies into classified national security missions in space.
The program removes the barrier, associated with the long processing of admissions, through which commercial companies with off-the-shelf solutions cannot participate in classified programs. Without appropriate clearances, the military is unable to inform developers of current orbital threats and capability requirements.
ACES builds on the experience of the DARPA BRIDGES initiative, which in 2025 completed the connection work last year 19 commercial companies to secret projects. COMSO is working with SpaceWERX and the Defense Innovation Unit to scale the model, using agreements of the Other Transaction Authority type.
The leadership of the Space Forces emphasized, that the convergence of commercial innovation with classified programs is necessary for the operational implementation of combat space capabilities. ACES allows you to determine access requirements in advance and support companies in the process of obtaining admissions.
The program is not an open pathway for self-admissions. Companies must have an active government sponsor with proven operational need. This will contribute to the expansion of the base of commercial technologies within the scope of the annual procurement budget of the Space Systems Command 15,6 billion dollars.
Source: https://satnews.com