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 Kepler data relay network will adhere to optical communications standards developed by the Space Development Agency and use SDA-compatible optical user terminals.
The Space Development Agency awarded the contract for the NExT program on 2022-10-10.
The Space Development Agency awarded York Space Systems a $94,000,000 contract in August 2020 to develop 10 Tranche 0 satellites.
York Space Systems is developing an additional 42 satellites in support of the Space Development Agency's Tranche 1 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture expected to launch in late 2024.
York Space Systems established first contact with all eight York satellites delivered to orbit as part of the Space Development Agency's Tranche 0 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
Space Development Agency established communication with all 10 satellites three days after their 2023-04-02 launch.
The Space Development Agency is preparing to launch 18 more Tranche 0 satellites in June.
The Pentagon allocated $700,000,000 in 2023 and $500,000,000 in 2024 to fund a total of 12 Space Development Agency launches.
The Space Development Agency procures systems under fixed-price contracts.
The Space Development Agency published a draft solicitation for Tranche 2 on 2023-03-01 and intends Tranche 2 launches to begin in 2026.
The Space Development Agency launched its first 10 satellites on 2023-04-02.
Starting in 2024-09-01, the Space Development Agency plans one launch per month for the next year.
The successful Tranche 0 launch occurred 27 months after the Space Development Agency ordered the satellites.
SpaceX launched the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 0 mission on a Falcon 9 rocket on 2023-04-02 at 7:29 a.m. PT (14:29 UTC).
The Space Development Agency uses an acquisition strategy focused on designing and rapidly deploying a threat-driven resilient constellation of small satellites in low Earth orbit to enable faster and cheaper capability delivery.
The Space Development Agency awarded firm-fixed-price contracts for Tranche 0 satellites resulting in a cost of approximately $15,000,000 per Transport satellite.
The Space Development Agency launched the first 10 Tranche 0 Transport and Tracking Layer satellites of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
Tranche 1 will be operated by Space Development Agency space operations centers based heavily on commercial space operations models.
The Space Development Agency plans to field Tranche 1, the first operational generation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, beginning in late 2024.
The 2023-04-02 launch was the first of two dedicated launches to be performed by SpaceX under a 2020-12-01 $150,000,000 contract with the Space Development Agency for Tranche 0 satellites.