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.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The Space Development Agency has ordered 56 satellites from Northrop Grumman.
The Space Development Agency is ordering satellites from multiple vendors and requiring manufacturers to make their spacecraft interoperable via optical links that adhere to common standards.
The Space Development Agency issued a draft solicitation for 54 Tracking Layer Tranche 2 satellites with comments due 2023-07-20.
The Space Development Agency has ordered 52 satellites from Lockheed Martin.
The Space Development Agency set target prices of $45,000,000 to $50,000,000 for each Tracking Layer satellite.
The Pentagon projected an additional $23,000,000,000 for the Space Development Agency from fiscal years 2025 through 2028.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Space Development Agency’s first 10 Tranche 0 satellites on 2023-04-02.
The Space Development Agency has ordered 62 satellites from York Space Systems.
Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris are building Space Development Agency satellites using commercial buses from Terran Orbital, Airbus U.S. Space and Defense, and Maxar Technologies, respectively.
York Space Systems has delivered 10 satellites to the Space Development Agency for Tranche 0.
The Space Development Agency is building a low-Earth-orbit constellation that relies on a broad base of suppliers for commercially produced small satellites and laser communications terminals.
SpaceX and Raytheon Technologies are using in-house satellite designs for their Space Development Agency builds.
The Space Development Agency expects the Grand Forks satellite test and checkout center to be completed in 2026.
Congress approved $18,000,000 in 2022 for construction of the Space Development Agency’s two operations centers.
The Space Development Agency awarded a $324,500,000 contract to a team led by General Dynamics Mission Systems, alongside Iridium Communications, KSAT, Emergent, and Raytheon Technologies, to build and operate its ground control centers.
The Space Development Agency will build a new satellite testing facility at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.
The Pentagon’s 2023 budget includes $4,000,000 to start construction of the Space Development Agency’s test and checkout facility at Grand Forks.
The Space Development Agency is working to deploy a mesh network in low Earth orbit projected to include hundreds of communications, data-relay, and sensor satellites to support military users worldwide.
The Senate’s version of the 2024 defense spending bill proposes an additional $4,000,000 to continue construction of the Space Development Agency’s Grand Forks facility, and an additional $4,000,000 is expected to be added in 2025.
Lockheed Martin is developing more than 50 satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer.