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U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)

US

The U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) is a U.S. Space Force direct-reporting unit focused on the rapid deployment of space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter. It aims to achieve this through the development, fielding, and operation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a threat-driven constellation of small satellites in low Earth orbit. SDA's key focus areas include military data and communications connectivity, missile tracking, and development of a resilient space architecture, working with partners like Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, and York Space Systems. Their work supports terrestrial missions and enhances warfighter lethality, maneuverability, and survivability.

gov defenseFounded 2019
United States
www.sda.mil/
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

The 10 smallsats are part of the Tranche 0 Transport Layer of the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Sep 18, 2023Terran Orbital buses deploy to LEO for SDA’s Tranche 0 mission

Terran Orbital’s new bus lineup is derived from its nanosatellite innovation and its microsatellite bus designed and built for the U.S. Space Development Agency’s Tranche 0 Transport Layer mission and the coming Tranche 1 mission.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Sep 14, 2023Terran Orbital Showcases New Product Line of Seven Satellite Buses

The U.S. Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer Program is a mesh network in low Earth orbit intended to support U.S. military operations as well as other satellites and constellations.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Sep 12, 2023Terran Orbital Opens 60,000 SF Satellite Manufacturing Factory in Irvine California

Terran Orbital is manufacturing 42 satellite buses on behalf of Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer Program.

RelationshipsCapabilityPlanValue 4.6Sep 12, 2023Terran Orbital Opens 60,000 SF Satellite Manufacturing Factory in Irvine California

The resiliency capability provided by Starlite was not initially planned in the Space Development Agency Tranche 1 baseline but is included in the Tranche 2 baseline plans.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Sep 11, 2023Geost payloads selected for Space Development Agency satellites

The U.S. Space Development Agency's Tranche 1 Transport Layer Program is a mesh network in low Earth orbit that will support United States military operations in addition to other satellites and constellations.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Sep 11, 2023Terran Orbital Opens 60,000 SF Factory Addition in Irvine, CA

Terran Orbital is manufacturing 42 satellite buses on behalf of Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Space Development Agency's Tranche 1 Transport Layer Program.

RelationshipsPlanCapabilityValue 5.0Sep 11, 2023Terran Orbital Opens 60,000 SF Factory Addition in Irvine, CA

Northrop Grumman won a $617,000,000 contract in July 2022 to produce 14 Tracking Layer satellites for the Space Development Agency.

RelationshipsFinancialPlanValue 5.0Sep 11, 2023Geost payloads selected for Space Development Agency satellites

GEOST, LLC., a LightRidge Solutions company, was selected by Northrop Grumman to build and rapidly deliver the Starlite resiliency payload for Tracking Layer Tranche 1 satellites being developed for the Space Development Agency.

RelationshipsPlanCapabilityValue 4.5Sep 11, 2023GEOST to build resiliency payload for Northrop Grumman Tracking Layer satellites

The eight payloads are intended to detect threats in orbit for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer satellites projected to launch in 2025.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Sep 11, 2023Geost payloads selected for Space Development Agency satellites

Geost won a contract on 2023-09-11 to produce eight payloads for missile-tracking satellites that Northrop Grumman is building for the U.S. Space Development Agency.

RelationshipsPlanCapabilityValue 4.8Sep 11, 2023Geost payloads selected for Space Development Agency satellites

The Space Development Agency Tracking Layer Tranche 1 satellites are scheduled to launch in 2025.

PlanValue 4.0Sep 11, 2023GEOST to build resiliency payload for Northrop Grumman Tracking Layer satellites

Lockheed Martin is a strategic investor in Terran Orbital and uses Terran Orbital buses for communications satellites it is producing for the U.S. Space Development Agency.

RelationshipsCapabilityGeneralValue 4.2Sep 7, 2023Terran Orbital announces plan to speed up satellite production

Terran Orbital supplies satellite buses for the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture through Lockheed Martin.

RelationshipsGeneralValue 4.5Sep 6, 2023Terran Orbital unveils seven standard satellite buses

The Space Development Agency ordered seven Tranche 1 Tracking Layer satellites from Raytheon Technologies.

RelationshipsValue 5.0Sep 6, 2023Space Development Agency solicits bids for 54 missile-tracking satellites

The Space Development Agency released a solicitation on 2023-09-05 for 54 satellites equipped with infrared sensors capable of tracking hypersonic missiles in all phases of flight.

PlanCapabilityGeneralLegalValue 4.2Sep 6, 2023Space Development Agency solicits bids for 54 missile-tracking satellites

The Nebula is the commercialized version of the bus placed in orbit on the U.S. Space Development Agency Transport Layer Tranche 0 launch in partnership with Lockheed Martin.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.2Sep 6, 2023Terran Orbital Unveils New Product Line of Seven Satellite Buses

The Space Development Agency acquired four Tranche 0 Tracking Layer satellites from SpaceX.

RelationshipsValue 4.5Sep 6, 2023Space Development Agency solicits bids for 54 missile-tracking satellites

The Space Development Agency ordered 14 Tranche 1 Tracking Layer satellites from Northrop Grumman.

RelationshipsValue 4.5Sep 6, 2023Space Development Agency solicits bids for 54 missile-tracking satellites

Terran Orbital designed and built a micro satellite bus for the U.S. Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer Tranche 0 mission and the planned Tranche 1 mission.

CapabilityPlanGeneralValue 4.0Sep 6, 2023Terran Orbital Unveils New Product Line of Seven Satellite Buses
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