KC’s Enduralock secures $1.25M SpaceWERX contract to boost satellite docking tech 

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.