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’s Transport Layer is a low Earth orbit mesh network of optically-interconnected satellites that will send and receive wideband data to and from ground stations and mobile users.
York Space Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman won contracts in February from the Space Development Agency to each produce 42 satellites for the Transport Layer Tranche 1.
General Dynamics Mission Systems (NYSE: GD) and Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) were awarded a $324,516,613 contract by the Space Development Agency to establish the ground Operations and Integration segment for Tranche 1 of the National Defense Space Architecture.
The $324,516,613 contract awarded by the Space Development Agency includes a base amount of $162,954,122 and $161,562,491 in options.
The SDA Tranche 1 mission is a batch of small satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer constellation that will launch on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Western Range into a polar orbit.
The General Dynamics Mission Systems–Iridium team will develop, equip, staff, operate, and maintain commercial-like operations centers for the Space Development Agency.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) received three NSS launch service orders for USSF-124, USSF-62, and one Space Development Agency Tranche 1 mission using the Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
The Space Development Agency Tranche 1 mission is the first of six missions for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer.
The SDA Tranche 1 mission assigned to SpaceX will be the first of six planned Tranche 1 missions to be launched by the Space Development Agency.
General Dynamics Mission Systems won a $324.5 million, seven-year contract to operate the ground systems and manage network operations of the Space Development Agency’s low Earth orbit constellation.
The Space Development Agency procures its satellites under fixed-price contracts while using a cost-plus approach for the O&I agreement with General Dynamics Mission Systems.
CACI International Inc. partnered with DARPA and the Space Development Agency on the Mandrake II program to demonstrate space-to-space optical communications links in LEO.
Companies including CACI, Mynaric, and Tesat are preparing to ramp up production to support the Space Development Agency's planned procurements of optical terminals.
The Space Development Agency plans to launch its first 14 satellites in September 2022.
The Space Development Agency set a goal to build a mesh network known as the Transport Layer using commercially available satellite buses and laser terminals.
The Space Development Agency reached out to other government agencies to borrow components for its Tranche 0 timeline.
The Space Development Agency plans to begin launching Transport Layer Tranche 1, a deployment of 126 satellites, in 2024.
L3Harris Technologies is making four infrared sensor satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 0.
Lockheed Martin, York Space Systems, and Northrop Grumman are each under contract to produce 42 satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer Tranche 1.
The Space Development Agency had a schedule to launch 28 satellites between September 2022 and March 2023.