Partnership with Scout Space Marks a Significant Step Forward in Advancing Space Domain Awareness Capabilities

Blue Origin, the private aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, has announced a partnership with Scout Space to fly an AI-powered space surveillance sensor on its inaugural operational flight, the Blue Ring spacecraft. The Owl sensor, developed by Scout Space, is designed to detect, track, and characterize objects in orbit, including satellites, debris, and other space flotsam, from long distances.

The partnership marks a significant step forward in advancing space domain awareness (SDA) capabilities, with the mission expected to launch in Spring 2026. The Blue Ring spacecraft, which can carry up to 8,800 pounds of mission cargo, will deliver the Owl sensor to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), before the instrument transitions to operational activities in geostationary orbit (GEO).

“The integration of Scout’s Owl sensor on this first mission marks a significant step forward in advancing SDA capabilities and underscores our commitment to supporting the nation’s mission requirements,” said Paul Ebertz, senior vice president of Blue Origin’s In-Space Systems business unit.

The Owl sensor is powered by artificial intelligence to autonomously identify and classify threats or anomalies, supporting national security and commercial interests in space situational awareness. The sensor’s AI capabilities enable it to analyze vast amounts of data in real-time, providing critical insights into space objects and anomalies.

According to Blue Origin, the partnership highlights the company’s growing focus on missions in support of national security and U.S. dominance in space amid growing orbital congestion and geopolitical tensions. The partnership also marks a significant milestone for Blue Ring, which is designed to be a modular, multi-destination satellite bus capable of carrying up to 13 payloads across multiple ports.

“We’ve always believed that no single company can bring the best space superiority capabilities to the market alone,” said Scout Space CEO Philip Hover-Smoot. “We’re thrilled to work with Blue Origin to bring Scout’s secure solutions onboard this historic first Blue Ring mission.”

The mission is expected to demonstrate the capabilities of the Blue Ring spacecraft, which can launch into a variety of destinations in Earth orbit and even go to deep space, including the moon and Mars. The spacecraft will launch on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, which successfully lifted off for the first time in January 2025. The New Glenn rocket is designed to be a versatile launch vehicle capable of carrying a wide range of payloads, from small satellites to large cargo missions.

The partnership between Blue Origin and Scout Space has significant implications for the future of space surveillance and national security. As the space domain becomes increasingly congested and contested, the need for advanced space surveillance capabilities has never been more pressing. The Owl sensor and Blue Ring spacecraft are designed to meet this need, providing a critical capability for national security and commercial interests.

“We’re excited to be at the forefront of this new era in space surveillance,” said Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin. “The partnership with Scout Space is a significant step forward in advancing our capabilities and supporting the nation’s mission requirements.”

The Blue Ring spacecraft and Owl sensor are expected to be a game-changer in the world of space surveillance, providing a critical capability for national security and commercial interests. As the mission approaches launch, the space community is eagerly anticipating the results of this historic partnership between Blue Origin and Scout Space.