Definitive Contract HR001126CE026

Viridian Space Corp, a small business based in El Segundo, California, was awarded a $2.35M firm fixed-price definitive contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on January 28, 2026, under the Embedded Entrepreneurship Initiative (EEI) with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) option. This contract, with an ultimate completion date of January 27, 2029, was issued through DARPA's Commercial Solutions Opening (DCSO) to support the commercialization of innovative technologies derived from prior DARPA research and development efforts. The award carries no set-aside designation and will be performed at Viridian's El Segundo facility. Viridian's proposal focuses on commercializing its air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) systems—technology the company has been developing through multiple prior Small Business Innovation Research awards from the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Under the EEI framework, Viridian will execute comprehensive commercialization activities across multiple focus areas, including competitive analysis, financing and market engagement strategies, regulatory compliance planning, and business development to transition its ultra-low Earth orbit propulsion technology toward practical military and civilian applications. This effort builds on Viridian's established expertise in developing electric propulsion thrusters that utilize Earth's atmosphere as a propellant source, enabling satellite operations at altitudes between 200 and 300 kilometers. The contract's structure, encompassing a base effort plus the MVP option, provides DARPA with flexibility to fund both commercialization planning and demonstration activities as Viridian advances its technology toward market readiness and broader adoption for enhanced Earth observation, satellite communications, and space servicing missions.