Current Opportunity
Orbital Edge Accelerator Program
Orbital Edge Accelerator program
The ISSInternational Space Station National Lab is launching the Orbital Edge Accelerator program. Through the accelerator, six pioneering startups will be selected to receive an investment of up to $500,000 each—which is being provided by global investors Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), E2MC, and Stellar Ventures—along with mentorship and the opportunity to launch an ISS National Lab-sponsored investigation. By bridging the gap between early-stage companies and space-based innovation, the Orbital Edge Accelerator program aims to unlock discoveries that can benefit humanity and drive new commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit(Abbreviation: LEO) The orbit around the Earth that extends up to an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Earth’s surface. The International Space Station’s orbit is in LEO, at an altitude of approximately 250 miles..
Solicitation #:
NLRAThe abbreviation for an ISS National Lab Research Announcement. NLRAs are one of the ISS National Lab’s primary mechanisms to solicit proposals in specific research areas. Open Period:
4/2/2025 – 9/9/2025
Strategic Focus:
Technology Development
Research Area:
N/A
TechConnect will host an informational webinar on April 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. EDT providing additional details on the scope of this opportunity and the advantages of utilizing the orbiting laboratory. To register, please visit the webinar registration page. TechConnect will also host two office hours for potential respondents to ask questions.
To learn more about the accelerator program, networking events, office hours, and application process, visit the Orbital Edge Accelerator webpage.