A rendering of a Nexus satellite in assembly. For startup Astranis, which launched its first "MicroGEO" spacecraft last year, the R-GPS program marks an expansion beyond satellite internet into the market for positioning, navigation and timing, or PNT, services. "We've started to see a huge push towards proliferation in higher orbits by the U.S. national security community," Astranis CEO John Gedmark told CNBC. "Now the Department of Defense has recognized all of the fantastic things that we can do in high orbits with a next-generation small satellite approach." As it expands as a company, Astranis is announcing its new Nexus product line of PNT satellites, its answer for the R-GPS program. Gedmark noted they use the same type of spacecraft as the company's broadband satellites. Additionally, as R-GPS satellites will operate in medium Earth orbit, like the current GPS constellation, the Nexus product line marks a widening of where Astranis plans to deploy and operate its spacecraft. The company, having raised $750 million since its founding in 2015, has announced deals for 12 of its internet satellites, 10 of which are expected to launch to geosynchronous orbit by the end of next year. "We knew pretty early on that this platform that we developed could be used for other missions than broadband telecommunications and the Resilient GPS program has just come along as a perfect example of that," Gedmark said. Gedmark sees R-GPS as "a multi-billion dollar opportunity," given that Space Force wants to build a full constellation of at least two dozen satellites. The R-GPS plan Space Force used a novel Pentagon funding authority, called "Quick Start," to get the R-GPS program going. In less than six months, the program got approval from the deputy secretary of defense, conducted market research, hosted companies for an industry day, solicited bids and awarded initial contracts — a process the military notes often takes as long as three years for space programs. "The speed with which they've moved on this program is unprecedented. … We've never seen the Department of Defense move that fast before," Gedmark said. Astranis