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Split Talos satellite, courtesy of Slingshot Aerospace.
Split Talos satellite, courtesy of Slingshot Aerospace.
Slingshot Aerospace wins $69.2 million Space Force contract
ColoradoBiz Staff //July 16, 2026//
In Brief:
- Slingshot Aerospace awarded $69.2 million U.S. Space Force contract
- Contract duration set for 4.5 years under SBIR Phase III
- MENTAT program uses TALOS platform for AI-enabled mission rehearsal
- CEO Tim Solms highlights advancement in operational space readiness
Windsor, CO-based Slingshot Aerospace has received a $69.2 million U.S. Space Force contract to develop artificial intelligence-powered mission rehearsal and training capabilities for Guardians responsible for space defense.
The 4.5-year award, issued as a Small Business Innovation Research Phase III contract, is the largest in the company’s history. It builds on a previous Strategic Funding Increase contract that supported development of a digital model of the space operating environment.
Under the program, known as MENTAT, Slingshot will provide AI-enabled mission rehearsal and operational training through its TALOS platform. The system is designed to simulate spacecraft behavior, evaluate response options and support decision-making during realistic space operations scenarios.
The training platform will allow Guardians to access mission rehearsal capabilities from their home stations instead of relying primarily on scheduled exercises.
“TALOS gives Guardians the ability to train against realistic orbital scenarios and rehearse complex missions with a level of speed, scale and accessibility that simply hasn’t existed before,” Tim Solms, CEO of Slingshot Aerospace, said. “MENTAT represents a major advancement in operational space readiness.”
The company said MENTAT combines live orbital data, astrodynamics, AI analytics and mission context into a single training environment designed to reflect current space operations.
Founded in 2017, Slingshot Aerospace develops AI-powered space operations software for government and commercial customers. The company has offices in Colorado, Texas, Canada, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
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