The Front Door Problem in National Security Space

The U.S. national security space community's fragmented "front door" system creates a bureaucratic maze for commercial companies, where officials often recognize a technology's value but lack the flexible capital to fund it. This disconnect creates a "valley of death" for startups and prevents the military from quickly adopting vital new capabilities while competitors like China advance. A proposed solution is a unified national security space front door that consolidates industry engagement across all relevant agencies into a single, accessible platform. This system would leverage quarterly prize competitions to rapidly evaluate and fund innovative solutions, providing a clear and fast path from a commercial pitch to an operational contract.