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 low Earth orbit constellation, known as Transport Layer, will use optical inter-satellite links to route data traffic.
The Space Development Agency awarded nearly $1,800,000,000 in contracts for 126 satellites for the Transport Layer.
The Space Development Agency awarded BridgeComm and Space Micro a $1,700,000 Small Business Innovation Research contract to demonstrate one-to-many optical communications technology over two years.
The omnibus bill adds $550,000,000 to the Space Development Agency’s budget for medium field-of-view sensor satellites to detect and track missiles in the Indo-Pacific region.
The omnibus compromise provides $550,000,000 for a satellite demonstration for U.S. Indo-Pacom to be managed and executed only by the Space Development Agency.
The Space Development Agency provides analysis that helps develop understanding of space events when combined with information from intelligence agencies, and Space Development Agency capabilities are the top mission priority for U.S. Space Command.
Terran Orbital and Lockheed Martin teamed on a 2020 contract to build satellites for the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency using small buses from Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems Inc.
The U.S. Defense Department’s Space Development Agency awarded Lockheed Martin a $700,000,000 contract on 2022-02-28 to build 42 satellites by 2024 for a global communications network in low Earth orbit.
The Space Development Agency awarded York Space Systems a $382,000,000 contract for Transport Layer Tranche 1.
The Space Development Agency ordered 20 Tranche 0 satellites in 2020, with 10 each from Lockheed Martin and York Space Systems scheduled to launch later 2022.
SDA ordered 20 Tranche 0 satellites in 2020, split as 10 each from Lockheed Martin and York Space Systems.
The Defense Department’s Space Development Agency awarded nearly $1,800,000,000 in contracts on 2022-02-28 to produce 126 satellites for a global low Earth orbit communications network.
The Space Development Agency awarded three prototype agreements worth approximately $1,800,000,000 to establish the foundation for Tranche 1 Transport Layer.
The Space Development Agency was established in 2019 to apply commercial small-satellite innovations to military systems.
The Space Development Agency awarded Northrop Grumman a $692,000,000 contract for Transport Layer Tranche 1.
The Space Development Agency awarded Lockheed Martin a $700,000,000 contract for Transport Layer Tranche 1.
SDA awarded $700,000,000 to Lockheed Martin, $692,000,000 to Northrop Grumman, and $382,000,000 to York Space Systems for the Transport Layer Tranche 1.
Voyager Space Inc. supports the Space Development Agency’s efforts to engage commercial space companies to expand the United States’ capabilities and resiliency in space.
Voyager Space Inc. and Space Micro, Inc., powered by Voyager, received a 24-month development contract from the Space Development Agency for advanced one-to-many optical communications using Managed Optical Communication Array (MOCA) technology to support Low Earth Orbit constellations.
Tyvak is Lockheed Martin’s partner for the contract Lockheed Martin won in 2020 to build 10 satellites for the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency.