COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, January 30, 2025 — The Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Space ISAC) is proud to announce a groundbreaking new benefit for its members: access to Accelerating Space Capabilities 100 (ASC-100), an international federated network of Testbeds and Proving Grounds. This initiative represents a significant step forward in accelerating the development and deployment of innovative space technologies into commercial and government architectures.
ASC-100 will grant Space ISAC members streamlined access to credentialed testing facilities across the United States and international partner nations, providing both physical and digital Testbeds and Proving Grounds environments that simulate space operating conditions. These facilities are essential for agile developments, validations, and operational deployment of cutting-edge space capabilities.
“A global approach is essential to addressing the universal challenge of meeting today’s national security demands,” said Erin Miller, Executive Director at Space ISAC said from Commercial Space Week in Orlando, where she is joining a panel discussion related to ASC-100. “Our initiative is part of a broader effort to accelerate the growing number of space capabilities from concept to prototype to flight-proven systems, ensuring they can be deployed effectively to serve the national interests of the United States and our global partners.”
In partnership with The Aerospace Corporation, a founding member of Space ISAC, ASC-100 will foster collaboration among U.S. and allied stakeholders. The Aerospace Corporation will lead the physics and engineering efforts for testing conducted through this initiative.
“It is highly valuable for the evolving space enterprise to have streamlined access to validating Testbeds and Proving Grounds via the Space ISAC’s ASC-100 solution. This access helps build confidence and accelerates the deployment of innovative space capabilities to space, where they will contribute to the formation of evolving space ecosystems,” said Ron Birk, Principal Director, Space Enterprise Evolution at The Aerospace Corporation.
The ASC-100 initiative has already engaged 36 partner organizations across the United States, Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom, spanning the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Guided by an Advisory Council of acquirers, integrators, insurers, investors, and regulators, ASC-100 ensures a trusted governance framework to support the secure deployment of space technologies.
“We are appreciative of the many forward-thinking organizations across the space enterprise—both in the U.S. and international partners—who have helped drive this effort to enable an environment that can sustain evolving on-orbit architectures and responsive space operations,” said Lori Gordon, Aerospace Systems Director, Space Enterprise Evolution, and a co-chair of the ASC-100 steering committee.
The first operating version of the ASC-100 portal is set to launch in February, featuring 10 Testbeds and Proving Grounds. Members and interested organizations are encouraged to complete this survey to outline their needs and priorities related to testing and validation capabilities. This includes identifying critical space mission scenarios or environments that current testing facilities may not adequately replicate.
BACKGROUND
Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) is a 501(c)(6) organization that serves as the all-threats security information source for the public and private space sector. Founded in 2019, Space ISAC became an official member of the National Council of ISACs in 2020. The Space ISAC Watch Center achieved initial operational capability in March 2023.
Space ISAC is located at the Kevin W O’Neil Cybersecurity Research and Education Building at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The Space ISAC serves to facilitate collaboration across the global space industry to enhance our ability to prepare for and respond to vulnerabilities, incidents, and threats; to disseminate timely and actionable information among member entities; and to serve as the primary communications channel for the sector with respect to this information. After opening the Watch Center in 2023, member services include support for response, mitigation, and resilience initiatives, while breaking down communication silos of public-private information sharing.
Space ISAC founding members include: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH), MITRE, SES, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), Purdue University, the Space Dynamics Laboratory, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, The Aerospace Corporation, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Microsoft, L3Harris, Deloitte and Capella Space.
Space ISAC establishes partnerships with government agencies for facilitating collaboration to protect the security of the global space industry. Space ISAC government partners include: Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Command, US Space Force, Department of State, Federal Bureau-Investigation, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA), Israel Space Agency, the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance, the Department of Commerce, the National Cyber Director, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), IC Commercial Space Council, and National Space Council.
