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The U.S. Space Force has rebranded Space Systems Command’s Front Door initiative as the Space Force Front Door, broadening the service’s main gateway for commercial engagement and technology intake. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman announced the change during his keynote at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Sept. 23, framing the move as a way to better link industry with offices across the service and other government partners.
“Your concepts are now vetted against the needs of organizations beyond just SSC, including all Space Force equities, broader Department needs, other government agencies and allies,” Saltzman said. “Every bit of new technology that gives us an advantage is a win for the Space Force and the nation.”
Launched in 2023, Front Door has drawn more than 1,700 technology submissions from over 1,400 companies seeking to match their ideas with the right government customer, according to the service. Those connections helped feed more than 750 contracts for new space capabilities that Space Systems Command awarded in the first half of this year. The program has also supported 30 Industry Day and Reverse Industry Day events to facilitate direct exchanges between government and industry on future space needs.
With the relaunch, the online portal adds a section where Space Force and other agencies can post specific challenges, desired capabilities and requests for information from vendors. Program officials say that area will expand over time to help companies find opportunities and better understand government demand signals. The portal will continue offering Orbital Watch, which shares unclassified threat updates from Headquarters Space Force Intelligence with commercial operators to help them build more resilient systems.
“We have thoughtfully grown Front Door from a nascent commercial entry point, to a full service informational and connective hub for innovators who are creating space capabilities,” said Victor Vigliotti, director of Space Force Front Door. “The online portal builds on our past success to gather innovative ideas from across the commercial sector. As space threats continue to evolve – from cyber intrusions and electronic warfare to adversarial on-orbit activities, Front Door is also providing valuable unclassified threat information to enable our commercial portfolio to create greater resilience in their products and capabilities.”
The Space Force Front Door remains managed by Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office, which focuses on accelerating partnerships with industry to deliver capabilities aligned to operational needs. Officials said the office will keep expanding coordination across combatant commands and with other agencies working on space capabilities and development.
“The Commercial Space Office supports execution of the U.S. Space Force Commercial Space Strategy,” explained the office’s director, USSF Col. Timothy Trimailo. “We need industry to bring us your best ideas. If we don’t know we need them yet, tell us why we need them. When an idea is a good match, our Front Door will connect you with the appropriate office to see where your innovation or technology might enable our missions.”
