Space Test Program (STP)

Mission — Free-Flyer Spacecraft Missions source

America secures peace through strength, and that strength is built on an unyielding technological edge in space - an edge forged through strategic investments in the Department of Defense's (DoD) Space Test Program (STP). As the DoD's primary gateway for space experimentation to lead to space superiority, STP is a critical enabler of national security and a direct investment in deterring adversaries like China. The DoD Space Experiments Review Board (SERB) is central to STP's mission, conducting a rigorous annual review to evaluate and prioritize space experiment proposals. After being reviewed by the SERB, STP provides these cutting-edge technologies with rapid access to the demanding environment of space, accelerating their maturation into operational capabilities. This ensures our troops maintain a decisive advantage across all domains by: • Providing Access for Rigorous Testing and Evaluation: STP enables space access to test technologies, raise Technology Readiness Levels, and validate research. • Ensuring Warfighter Relevance: Through the DoD SERB prioritization, STP focuses on space technologies with direct military applications, benefiting warfighters across all domains. • Developing Future Operational Capabilities: STP matures promising space technologies into operational systems, strengthening the United States Space Force and ensuring its advantage. • Fostering Cross-Service Collaboration and Innovation: STP, DoD's space experimentation hub, fosters cross-service/agency collaboration, aligning tech priorities and minimizing redundancy. • Maximizing Value Through Collaboration: STP partners with government, commercial, and international entities to maximize taxpayer value, broaden space access, and optimize launch opportunities. STP adheres to Executive Orders 10521 and 13185, and the requirement from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)) to support research, per DoD Instruction 3210.1, Administration and Support of Basic Research. In addition, the Deputy Secretary of Defense Space Test Program Management & Funding Policy, issued in July 2002, reaffirmed STP as the primary provider of spaceflight for the DoD space research community. The July 2002 policy statement also reaffirmed STP's role as the single manager for all DoD payloads on the International Space Station (ISS). This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 1206392SF and 1206398SF. The FY 2026 request was reduced by $0.283M for Advisory and Assistance Services to promote efficiencies and advance the policies of the Administration in alignment with Executive Order 14222, "Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative." This program is in Budget Activity 6, RDT&E Management Support because this budget activity includes research, development, test and evaluation efforts and funds to sustain and/or modernize the installations or operations required for general research, development, test and evaluation.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (3)