Sidus Space Inc. (NASDAQ:SIDU) saw its stock rise 5.3% on Thursday after announcing it has been selected as a subcontractor for a NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) initiative aimed at improving the monitoring of orbital debris.
The Cape Canaveral–based aerospace and defense company will assist MobLobSpace, Inc. in a six-month design study to integrate a next-generation 4D radar system onto Sidus’ LizzieSat satellite bus. The contract, worth $173,000, seeks to advance Space Domain Awareness capabilities by enabling the tracking of debris as small as a few centimeters.
As part of the effort, Sidus will contribute engineering and spacecraft-systems expertise, including support on power distribution and Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) requirements needed to accommodate the radar payload. Sidus also received a separate Technical and Business Assistance award to evaluate scalability needs for a potential future constellation.
“Partnering with MobLobSpace to host advanced radar technology aboard LizzieSat represents a significant step toward improving space situational awareness and mitigating collision risks,” said Carol Craig, CEO of Sidus Space.
The collaboration will combine the adaptability of the LizzieSat platform with MobLobSpace’s radar system to develop improved solutions for the growing challenge of detecting and tracking orbital debris. Charlton Shackleton, Co-Founder of MobLobSpace, emphasized that “LizzieSat’s design provides the flexibility needed to support this capability.”
The project supports NASA’s broader Space Sustainability Strategy, which focuses on enhancing the safety, resilience, and longevity of space operations amid increasing congestion in Earth orbit.