Satellite systems face many of the same interoperability challenges as other defense domains, but space introduces unique constraints. Satellites often remain in service for decades due to high launch costs, meaning legacy systems are still widely used. Each satellite block tends to have a different interface, most of which were designed by space companies—not front-end engineers—which makes them difficult to integrate. Meanwhile, the rapid growth of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites has created a surge in the number of systems that need to be commanded and controlled.
The result is a fragmented ecosystem where mission autonomy is difficult to scale and where data doesn’t flow easily back into joint mission systems.
“It is going to be absolutely imperative to the protection and defense of this nation that we can integrate and network [new] capabilities and seamlessly share data, share situational awareness, [and] not duplicate development efforts going forward [to] optimize the utility of our resources.”
- General Michael A. Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations
Picogrid is solving this problem by converting interface control documents into a standardized, well-documented API. Legion unifies machine-to-machine communication across systems, normalizing data formats and exposing intuitive interfaces for integration with other command-and-control (C2) software. This makes it possible to build secure, scalable, and unified C2 environments—even in the highly controlled operating environments typical of space infrastructure.
We streamline SatOps integration so others can build more intuitive and unified mission systems. Our goal is to remove the barriers between satellite data, autonomy, and decision-making.
We currently support the U.S. Space Force’s Rapid Resilient Command and Control (R2C2) program—a $999 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) effort to modernize satellite ground systems. Our work under R2C2 focuses on delivering modular, cloud-ready software that improves the speed, resilience, and interoperability of U.S. space operations.
