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 projects purchasing up to 150 additional satellites to be launched in 2024 to expand coverage.
The Space Development Agency plans a future field office at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.
The Space Development Agency persuaded Pentagon leadership that it could procure satellites for under $20,000,000 apiece.
SDA has awarded contracts to Lockheed Martin and YORK Space Systems for the construction of Transport satellites.
The Space Development Agency was established in March 2019.
The Space Development Agency and the Missile Defense Agency plan to launch a Prototype Infrared Payload made by Northrop Grumman as a medium field-of-view multispectral sensor.
The Blackjack program will test technologies that the Space Development Agency plans to apply to its future fleet of low-Earth-orbit satellites.
The Space Development Agency is building a mesh network in low Earth orbit known as the Transport Layer.
Lockheed Martin is one of the companies selected to provide satellites to the Space Development Agency.
DARPA and the Space Development Agency are building mesh networks in low-Earth orbit and have interest in optical inter-satellite link capabilities.
Telesat teamed with Lockheed Martin to study interoperability between Telesat’s LEO constellation and satellites Lockheed Martin is building for the Space Development Agency.
The Space Development Agency selected L3Harris in December 2020 to build and launch four space vehicles to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles for launch in 2022.
All satellites procured by the Space Development Agency must be interoperable and optical links are critical to achieving that interoperability.
The Space Development Agency plans to procure hundreds of satellites equipped with laser communications terminals.
York Space Systems won a Space Development Agency contract in August 2020 for 10 satellites scheduled for launch in 2022 to provide communications services.
DARPA and the Space Development Agency intended to launch two optical inter-satellite link cubesats on Transporter-1 but the satellites were accidentally damaged at the payload processing facility before launch.
The Pentagon’s Space Development Agency is especially interested in lightweight laser communications terminals for the fleet of LEO satellites it plans to deploy over the next few years.
The Space Development Agency accepted submissions in response to the 2021-01-25 solicitation until 2022-01-24.
The Space Development Agency has acquired 28 satellites planned to launch in 2022, including 20 Transport Layer data-relay satellites and eight missile-warning Tracking Layer satellites.
The Space Development Agency plans to buy up to 150 additional satellites to be launched in late 2024.