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.
Mynaric successfully demonstrated its implementation of the Space Development Agency (SDA) Optical Inter-Satellite Link (OISL) Standard in late March 2025.
GA-EMS is partnering with the Space Development Agency (SDA) to conduct a series of experiments using LINCS to demonstrate optical communication in and from space.
GA-EMS and the Space Development Agency are partnering to launch the LINCS system and conduct a series of experiments demonstrating space-based optical communication starting later this summer.
The Space Development Agency plans to use optical terminals with 2.5 gigabit-per-second bandwidth for the Transport Layer.
The Space Development Agency aims to launch 20 Transport Layer satellites in 2022 and up to 150 satellites in 2024.
The Space Development Agency will use the cubesats to test optical crosslinks and communication between satellites and a pilotless MQ-9 Reaper made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
Mike Butterfield is the optical communications lead at the Space Development Agency and regards manufacturing interoperable optical terminals as a concern for a proliferated LEO architecture.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) was awarded a contract by the Space Development Agency (SDA) to demonstrate space-to-air optical communication using GA-EMS’ Laser Interconnect and Networking Communication System (LINCS) and a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper.
The Space Development Agency is preparing to launch the first batch of its Transport Layer satellites and to procure up to 150 satellites planned to launch in 2024.
Tracking Layer Tranche 1 satellites are not funded in the Space Development Agency’s 2021-10-01 request.
The 2022 funds would allow the Space Development Agency to start acquiring Transport Layer Tranche 1 satellites.
The Pentagon is seeking $936,700,000 in 2022 for the Space Development Agency, about a $600,000,000 increase from 2021.
2021-10-01 is the first time the Space Development Agency receives a separate funding line for procurement.
Nearly $900,000,000 of the 2021-10-01 defense budget request is for the Space Development Agency’s communications network in low-Earth orbit known as the Transport Layer.
DoD consolidated some organizations under the Space Force while creating the Space Development Agency and the Space Rapid Capabilities Office to quickly develop new systems.
York Space Systems is building communications satellites for the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency under a $94,000,000 contract awarded in 2020.
Tyvak supplies small satellite buses to Lockheed Martin, which won a contract from the U.S. Defense Department’s Space Development Agency to provide 10 communications satellites.
Mynaric aims to support the build-out of the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer Tranche 1 constellation of as many as 150 satellites.
The Space Development Agency planned to issue an RFP to procure Transport Layer Tranche 1 satellites in 2021-07-01.
Each satellite in the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer Tranche 1 constellation is planned to feature between three and five optical terminals.