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 awarded SpaceX a $150,400,000 contract to launch its first 28 satellites in 2022 and 2023.
SpaceX received a $150,400,000 contract to launch the Space Development Agency’s first 28 Transport Layer satellites in 2022 and 2023.
Future Space Development Agency launches will be procured from either United Launch Alliance or SpaceX under the National Security Space Launch program.
Space Development Agency launch services will be procured under the National Security Space Launch program run by the U.S. Space Force.
For the Transport Layer Tranche 1, the Space Development Agency initially planned to allow satellite prime contractors to procure launch services under commercial contracts.
The Space Development Agency will seek bids later 2021 for up to 150 satellites for the Transport Layer Tranche 1.
The Space Development Agency intends to remove contractor-procured launch services language from the final request for proposals for Transport Layer Tranche 1.
The Space Development Agency is building a large constellation of small communications satellites in low Earth orbit known as the Transport Layer.
Innoflight has been awarded multiple contracts by L3Harris Technologies for the delivery of key avionics for four satellites produced by L3Harris under the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 0.
On 2021-06-30, the Space Development Agency deployed its first missions to orbit on a SpaceX rideshare that carried 88 small satellites.
This launch is the first successful launch of Space Development Agency payloads since the agency was established in 2019.
The Space Development Agency plans to use optical communications between satellites, to aircraft in flight, and to the ground in its constellations.
In partnership with the Space Development Agency, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems is among the first Department of Defense contractors to develop and deploy a 1550 nm Optical Communication Terminal to test increased speed, reliability, distance, and variability of space communications.
The Space Development Agency's missions on SpaceX Transporter-2 are estimated to cost $21,000,000 and include two pairs of satellites to demonstrate optical communications terminals in low Earth orbit and one satellite to demonstrate on-orbit data processing.
The Space Development Agency plans to deploy a low Earth orbit satellite network for military communications and missile defense.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems partnered with the Space Development Agency to launch the Laser Interconnect and Networking Communications System (LINCS) satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 9 as part of the Transporter-2 mission.
The first batch of Space Development Agency satellites is scheduled to launch in late 2022.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems will establish the proper orbit, communications, and control of the two LINCS spacecraft and will commence a series of experiments with the Space Development Agency to test optical communication in a variety of operational scenarios.
The Space Development Agency was established in 2019 and these missions are its first in-space experiments.
Transporter-2 is supporting customers including NASA, the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency, and several companies developing remote sensing and communications constellations.