Aerospace and the US Space Force's SpaceWERX are fast tracking commercial technologies to meet the rapidly evolving needs of national security space in a new program called TRL Bootcamp.

The program offers a structured environment combining assessment, guidance, and lab access, with the aim of better aligning emerging technologies with USSF space missions. The initiative recently completed their first cohort cycle and is embarking on expanding the program into its next phase.

TRL refers to Tech Readiness Level, a standardized way of describing what stage a new tech is, from theory to broad deployment. TRL Bootcamp enables small business and startup companies to align their innovative technologies with critical government needs while advancing Aerospace’s strategy of integrating commercial solutions into government programs.

“Our strength as a nation is our rich industrial base and the innovation that comes out of that,” said Arthur Grijalva, director of SpaceWERX. “We make investments into ideas, mature them, and transition them into the warfighter’s hands, while also accelerating them in the commercial market. Looking to the future, we want to make sure that everything we’re building and all these investments we’re making fit well into the force design, into the architecture for the Space Force, and into what the program offices are looking to actually advance. Aerospace is tied into all those communities.”

The inaugural bootcamp cohort of seven companies focused on in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM), with Aerospace and SpaceWERX supporting them in tailoring their innovations for defense, intelligence, and civil space applications. Participants get access to Aerospace’s tech campus, home to more than 150 state-of-the-art labs — maturing, documenting, and de-risking their technology for potential use by government customers.

"More than just showing the way, we help them get there”, said Andre Doumitt, at Aerospace's Commercial Space Futures Office, which co-manages the program. “After making technology development recommendations, we provide the subject matter experts and specialized lab equipment to help grow the technology as it climbs up the TRL ladder.”

By delivering these TRL assessments and technology development roadmaps, CSF provides the government customer and startup companies with a clear path to align technology with government priorities.