The US Space Force is asking industry partners to pitch satellites that can chase down and inspect objects in orbit on short notice, according to a request for information Space Systems Command published on Sept. 18, and reported Defence Blog. The Space Force is requesting a satellite that can sit ready at a contractor’s facility for up to two years, then launch within 14 days of a call-up. The Space Force is also floating a faster tier where a satellite could respond to a shorter alert cycle and could fly within 36 hours, or even 12 hours under the most demanding scenario. Those tighter numbers are goals for now, not hard requirements.

Once in orbit, the spacecraft needs to close the gap to zero meters from its target, whether that’s a piece of debris or a cooperating satellite, then move to a different orbit and do it again. The Space Force wants this to work in low orbit, medium orbit and the highly elliptical path satellites take on their way to geostationary orbit, with enough fuel on board to make more than a dozen major maneuvers.