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.
Trimailo’s office has spent extensive time reviewing proposals and making recommendations to help the Space Development Agency speed contract awards and meet a constellation timeline by 2022.
The Space Development Agency aims to complete an initial deployment of a Transport Layer of 20 data-relay satellites and a Tracking Layer of eight sensor satellites.
The Space and Missile Systems Center plans to use Space Development Agency satellites to host experimental payloads to test advanced capabilities on orbit.
The Space Development Agency was created in March 2019 as a stand-alone Defense Department organization.
The Space Development Agency seeks to incentivize industry investment in technologies for SDA programs by providing frequent procurements.
The Space Development Agency expects the unit price to be lower in Tranche 1 and projects that production of hundreds of satellites will yield an average price significantly less than $14,100,000.
The Space Development Agency will solicit bids for a procurement of up to 150 satellites to be launched in late 2024.
The Space Development Agency plans to purchase satellite buses and payloads that vendors are already producing rather than develop satellites on spec.
Space Development Agency officials are scheduled to meet with military leaders on 2021-03-31 to decide the minimum viable product for Tranche 1.
The Space Development Agency is building a low Earth orbit fleet that includes a Transport Layer of data-relay satellites and a Tracking Layer of sensor satellites to detect and track missiles.
The Space Development Agency's primary goal is to provide satellite-based services to military organizations and deployed forces as soon as possible.
The Space Development Agency ordered 20 transport satellites from Lockheed Martin and York Space Systems and eight tracking satellites from L3Harris and SpaceX last year.
The Missile Defense Agency sensor satellites will be part of a larger missile warning network that will include Space Development Agency missile-tracking satellites being developed by L3Harris and SpaceX.
The Prototype Infrared Payload is one of several Space Development Agency experiments planned in 2021 as the agency prepares to begin deploying a mesh network of satellites in low Earth orbit in 2022.
Northrop Grumman’s NG-16 Cygnus cargo mission will carry the Space Development Agency Prototype Infrared Payload to the International Space Station in July.
The Space Development Agency is working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on optical inter-satellite link technology and has issued solicitations seeking information from companies on the state of the technology.
Northrop Grumman received a $13,800,000 contract in June from the Space Development Agency for the Prototype Infrared Payload experiment.
The Defense Department’s Space Development Agency will launch a series of experiments including satellites with laser (optical) crosslinks and missile-tracking sensors as it begins deploying a network of satellites in low-Earth orbit in 2022.
The Space Development Agency plans to launch 30 satellites in 2022, comprising 20 Transport Layer data-relay satellites, eight missile-warning Tracking Layer satellites, and two sensor satellites from the Missile Defense Agency.
The Prototype Infrared Payload demonstration supports the Space Development Agency’s effort to obtain funding for 40 missile-tracking satellites to supplement the eight it has already acquired.