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 is working with the Missile Defense Agency to develop sensor satellites to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
The Space Development Agency is working with Congress and the Department of Defense comptroller to explore options, including anomaly funding, to allow Tranche 0 launches and Tranche 1 procurements to proceed under an extended continuing resolution.
The Space Development Agency's increased 2022 budget trajectory would cause significant slips in Tranche 1 and could impact Tranche 0 if funding remains at 2021 levels without anomaly funding.
The Space Development Agency is building a network of interconnected commercial satellites in low Earth orbit to transmit data and provide communications, navigation, and other services.
The Space Development Agency is leading a Department of Defense effort to deploy its own low Earth orbit constellation.
Space Micro was awarded a contract to deliver ten Nanocom Software Defined Radios via Lockheed Martin in support of the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 0 satellite constellation.
Quilty Analytics released a report summarizing input from the Space Development Agency (SDA) and other industry executives regarding the SDA's race to implement a proliferated LEO (PLEO) space architecture.
Space Micro announced a contract in October to deliver ten Nanocom software-defined radios to Lockheed Martin for inclusion in the satellites Lockheed Martin is building for the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer Tranche 0 constellation.
The U.S. Space Development Agency plans to pursue similar connectivity deals with other commercial imagery suppliers offering various types of imagery.
Imagery providers doing business with the U.S. Space Development Agency must install SDA-approved optical inter-satellite links on their satellites.
The U.S. Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer is a mesh network of communications satellites in low Earth orbit projected to start launching in 2022.
Capella ordered up to 20 CONDOR Mk3 optical communications terminals from Mynaric for its synthetic aperture radar satellites to relay data through the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer Tranche 1 constellation.
The Space Development Agency plans to start deploying a mesh network of satellites called the Transport Layer in late 2022.
The Space Development Agency is seeking to work with operators of electro-optical, radar imaging, and other observation satellites that have optical crosslinks so those satellites can communicate directly with the Transport Layer.
Capella Space established relationships in the last year with the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the Space Development Agency.
Mynaric will deliver one CONDOR Mk3 terminal to Capella Space in 2022 for an in-space interoperability demonstration with the Space Development Agency in early 2023.
Capella Space will begin installing optical communications terminals on its synthetic-aperture radar satellites in 2022 to deliver data to Department of Defense customers via the Space Development Agency’s low Earth orbit constellation.
The Space Development Agency will seek bids in early 2022 for the ground segment portion of its low-Earth orbit constellation.
The Space Development Agency plans to select manufacturers to supply 126 communications satellites for Transport Layer Tranche 1 before releasing a final operations and integration solicitation.
Under a separate procurement, the Space Development Agency is buying an additional 18 satellites to host various experimental payloads.