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.
L3Harris and SpaceX are each building four satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer.
The HBTSS satellites will be part of a larger missile warning network that also includes wide-field-of-view missile tracking satellites to be acquired by the Space Development Agency.
The Missile Defense Agency and the Space Development Agency are expected to procure hundreds more satellites to eventually provide global coverage.
The Space Development Agency is preparing to launch its first 28 satellites in 2022.
The Space Development Agency intends to create a market for prospective performers so they can build capabilities and bid on future projects.
The Space Development Agency awarded L3Harris Technologies a $193,500,000 contract to build four satellites to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
The Space Development Agency reevaluated contractor bids for Tracking Layer Tranche 0 and confirmed the original October selection decision.
The Space Development Agency is planning to launch Tracking Layer Tranche 0 satellites in late 2022.
The Space Development Agency implemented a corrective action plan for the Tracking Layer Tranche 0 competition after the initial awards received protests.
The Space Development Agency concluded that the SpaceX and L3Harris Technologies proposals offered the best value to the government.
The Space Development Agency awarded SpaceX a $149,000,000 contract to build four satellites to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
The two damaged satellites are part of the Blackjack program, a constellation effort led by DARPA, the Space Development Agency, and the Air Force Research Laboratory to deploy small satellites in low Earth orbit.
The U.S. Space Development Agency awarded Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) a nearly $155,000,000 contract for launch services from Vandenberg Air Force Base for the Agency’s Tranche 0 Transport and Tracking Layer space vehicles.
The Defense Department awarded SpaceX a $150,400,000 contract on 2020-12-31 to launch as many as 28 satellites for the Space Development Agency.
The Space Development Agency estimates the satellites will be ready to launch in late 2022.
SpaceX won a separate Space Development Agency contract in October to produce four Tracking Layer satellites, but that work is on hold due to a protest by competing bidders that has not been resolved.
The Space Development Agency requested bids on 2020-10-06 and set responses due on 2020-11-09.
The contract is to launch a mix of small and medium spacecraft that the Space Development Agency is acquiring from multiple vendors.
Companies that competed earlier in 2021 for Space Development Agency satellite contracts awarded to L3Harris and SpaceX were asked to resubmit their proposals following several protests of the awards.
On 2021-10-05 the Space Development Agency awarded L3Harris a $193,500,000 contract to build four satellites to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles.