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U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)

US
gov defenseFounded 2019
United States
Admin Edit

All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

The Space Development Agency (SDA) is focused on developing and delivering capabilities for warfighters.

Mentioned as: U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)Narrative GeneralFeb 11, 2021Direct From SmallSat Symposium, Dr. Derek M. Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency, Keynote Address

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.

Mentioned as: U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)Org RelationshipFeb 11, 2021DoD space agency launching experiments in preparation for 2022 satellite deployments

The Space Development Agency was established in March 2019.

Mentioned as: U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)Narrative GeneralFeb 11, 2021DoD space agency launching experiments in preparation for 2022 satellite deployments

SDA’s primary product is Beyond-Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) targeting for time-sensitive mobile targets, including mobile missile launchers and ships.

Mentioned as: U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)Narrative GeneralFeb 11, 2021Direct From SmallSat Symposium, Dr. Derek M. Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency, Keynote Address

SDA is working with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to build a constellation for detecting and tracking advanced missile threats.

Mentioned as: SDAOrg RelationshipFeb 11, 2021Direct From SmallSat Symposium, Dr. Derek M. Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency, Keynote Address

The Space Development Agency plans a future field office at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.

Mentioned as: Space Development AgencyTechnical ProductFeb 11, 2021DoD space agency launching experiments in preparation for 2022 satellite deployments

SDA has awarded contracts to Lockheed Martin and YORK Space Systems for the construction of Transport satellites.

Mentioned as: U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)Narrative GeneralFeb 11, 2021Direct From SmallSat Symposium, Dr. Derek M. Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency, Keynote Address

The SDA is focused on high-density, low-cost satellite proliferation to provide resilience and timely access to capabilities.

Mentioned as: U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)Narrative GeneralFeb 11, 2021Direct From SmallSat Symposium, Dr. Derek M. Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency, Keynote Address

The National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) serves as the backbone for SDA’s layered capabilities delivery.

Mentioned as: U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)Narrative GeneralFeb 11, 2021Direct From SmallSat Symposium, Dr. Derek M. Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency, Keynote Address

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.

Mentioned as: Space Development AgencyTechnical ProductFeb 11, 2021DoD space agency launching experiments in preparation for 2022 satellite deployments

SDA plans to develop and field new products every two years through a spiral development approach.

Mentioned as: U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)Narrative GeneralFeb 11, 2021Direct From SmallSat Symposium, Dr. Derek M. Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency, Keynote Address

The SDA is structured to operate similarly to a commercial entity within the Defense Department.

Mentioned as: Space Development AgencyOrg RelationshipFeb 11, 2021Direct From SmallSat Symposium, Dr. Derek M. Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency, Keynote Address

Lockheed Martin is one of the companies selected to provide satellites to the Space Development Agency.

Mentioned as: Space Development AgencyOrg RelationshipFeb 10, 2021DoD grapples with how to bring in new space technology to military systems

The Space Development Agency is building a mesh network in low Earth orbit known as the Transport Layer.

Mentioned as: Space Development AgencyTechnical ProductFeb 10, 2021DoD grapples with how to bring in new space technology to military systems

Telesat teamed with Lockheed Martin to study interoperability between Telesat’s LEO constellation and satellites Lockheed Martin is building for the Space Development Agency.

Mentioned as: Space Development AgencyTechnical ProductFeb 9, 2021Thales Alenia selected to build Telesat’s broadband constellation

DARPA and the Space Development Agency are building mesh networks in low-Earth orbit and have interest in optical inter-satellite link capabilities.

Mentioned as: Space Development AgencyTechnical ProductFeb 9, 2021Thales Alenia selected to build Telesat’s broadband constellation

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.

Mentioned as: U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)Org RelationshipFeb 2, 2021L3Harris Technologies Wins Next Phase of Space Flight Hardware For Missile Defense Contract

The Space Development Agency plans to procure hundreds of satellites equipped with laser communications terminals.

Mentioned as: U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)Narrative PlanFeb 2, 2021Laser communications company Mynaric opens Washington office

All satellites procured by the Space Development Agency must be interoperable and optical links are critical to achieving that interoperability.

Mentioned as: Space Development AgencyTechnical ProductFeb 2, 2021Laser communications company Mynaric opens Washington office

York Space Systems won a Space Development Agency contract in August 2020 for 10 satellites scheduled for launch in 2022 to provide communications services.

Mentioned as: U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)Org RelationshipJan 27, 2021Apollo Fusion wins electric propulsion order from York Space Systems
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