KC’s Enduralock secures $1.25M SpaceWERX contract to boost satellite docking tech
June 2, 2025 | Startland News Staff
A Lenexa tech company has been selected by the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force to address one of the most-pressing challenges facing military operations in the skies and beyond.
Enduralock just announced its selection for a $1.25 million contract aimed at using the company’s new connector system, OneLink, to enable modular in-space servicing and refueling for next-gen military and commercial satellites.
“At Enduralock, we believe the future of space is modular, serviceable, and sustainable,” said Dr. Harold Hess, co-founder and CEO of Enduralock. “OneLink is our answer to that future — a robust, multi-functional connector designed to unlock in-orbit refueling, upgrades, and interoperability.”
Harold Hess, co-founder and CEO, and Diana Greenberg, co-founder and COO, Enduralock; courtesy photo
With an evolved focus on space logistics, Enduralock — which boasts more than 30 worldwide patents — develops technologies that eliminate the need for traditional safety wiring, reducing lifecycle costs while enhancing structural reliability.
The Kansas City-built business is currently advancing satellite docking systems and adapting its fasteners for vision-based intelligent systems, paving the way for fully autonomous in-orbit assembly.
“As the space industry evolves, the company remains committed to innovation, focusing on solutions that will enable the servicing, upgrading, and construction of satellites in orbit,” Enduralock said in a press release.
The new Direct-to-Phase II contract comes through a partnership between the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and SpaceWERX (part of the U.S. Space Force and a unique division within AFWERX).
Enduralock benefits from the agencies streamlining the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution, Hess said.
“We’re honored to partner with SpaceWERX in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” he added.
The Department of the Air Force (DAF) began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018, which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded. With such changes, Enduralock has now started its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America, Hess said.
Check out a recent interview with Enduralock’s Harold Hess below.
Featured Business
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
How city dollars could help crime victims get back to business; Mayor unveils new fund to support struggling entrepreneurs
A newly introduced fund aimed at helping KCMO small businesses recover from and prevent property crimes — offering grants up to $3,000 for damage repairs and $5,000 for security upgrades — is a step in the right direction, said Joe Giammanco, whose pizza shop was recently hit by criminals. “Programs like this are going to…
KC pet tech startup fetches $120K Techstars investment, taking founder’s pitch to Atlanta
As Kansas City-built Interplay prepares to bring its debut product to market, the pet tech startup is getting a jolt of new energy from one of the nation’s top accelerator programs. The timing couldn’t be better, said founder Jonaie Johnson, announcing Interplay’s acceptance into Techstars Atlanta & New Orleans Powered by J.P. Morgan, which welcomed…
KC founder’s hip hop edtech app for children, families earns earns $50K in 5G innovation competition
A grants program focused on boosting social entrepreneurs — traditionally underfunded women and persons of color — who are using 5G wireless innovation to address pressing community challenges this week awarded a $50,000 prize to Kansas City startup Healthy Hip Hop for its work on child literacy. Catalyst — a competitive grants initiative by the Washington,…
Aussie tech company with KC HQ closes $112M round to scale its global expansion, AI innovation
As global technology company SafetyCulture closes another massive funding round, Kansas City — its largest market and biggest opportunity — stands primed for continued investment at the firm’s U.S. headquarters in the Crossroads Arts District. SafetyCulture on Tuesday announced a $112 million round — which values the Sydney, Australia-based workforce operations company at $1.7 billion —…