U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)

By Brian Everstine
The Space Development Agency on March 26 released its final solicitation for the Tranche 2 Tracking Layer-Gamma constellation of secretive space vehicles.
Space

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Space Development Agency is interested in hiring companies to deorbit its satellites at the end of their service lives.
Space

By Brian Everstine
The agency’s disruptive approach to space acquisition has produced many contracts in a tight timeline, though its biggest tests are yet to come.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble, Brian Everstine
Facing a reduction to its expected budget next year, the military cuts back on near-term aircraft procurement.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
Tournear says while the test did successfully transmit data, transmissions were only successful about half of the time.
Space

By Guy Norris
Sierra Space has unveiled a series of advanced autonomous, satellite and reentry products developed by Axelerator, its newly launched innovations incubator arm.
Space

By Garrett Reim
L3Harris Technologies has picked Maxar Space Systems to design and build 18 spacecraft for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer program.
Space

By Garrett Reim
L3Harris’s missile-tracking infrared satellite payload has passed its preliminary design review (PDR).
Space

By Steve Trimble
A forthcoming launch will test Lockheed Martin Space’s concept for advancing internet-like communications in orbit for military users.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
A pair of prototypes for the MDA's Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) program reached orbit following launch onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9.
Space

By Garrett Reim
The Space Development Agency plans to launch its last group of Tranche 0 missile Tracking Layer demonstration satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
Space

By Steve Trimble
Recenty comments by industry officials will not change the SDA’s strategy to avoid cost-plus development deals for the Tracking and Transport layers.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Garrett Reim
The U.S. Space Development Agency has awarded three companies $2.5 billion worth of contracts to supply 54 Tranche 2 missile Tracking Layer satellites.
Space

By Michael Bruno
Space-tug startup Momentus may have received a fatal blow after losing the U.S. Space Development Agency’s recent competition for 18 Tranche 2 satellites.
Commercial Space

By Garrett Reim
Rocket Lab has been awarded a $489 million contract to design, build and operate 18 Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta Data Transport Satellites for the SDA.
Space

By Garrett Reim
The Tracking Layer satellites are to be part of the first group of operational missile-tracking spacecraft in the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
Space

By Brian Everstine
The service is adding a new approach to launch contracting, as the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture takes shape.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The Gamma variant is scheduled to follow into development the first two variants of the Space Development Agency's Tranche 2 Tracking Layer.
Space

By Brian Everstine
The SDA has issued its solicitation for a new, experimental satellite constellation to look for classified threats.
Space

By Garrett Reim
Link 16 is a tactical data link used by the U.S. military, NATO, and U.S. coalition partner nations.
Space

By Garrett Reim
The spacecraft is the Pentagon’s first experimental navigation satellite in nearly 50 years.
Space

By Brian Everstine
The Space Force has assigned 21 launches for fiscal 2024 under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 launch service procurement contract.
Space

By Brian Everstine
Northrop Grumman and York will build another 100 data transport satellites under new $1.3 billion contracts from the Space Development Agency.
Space

By Garrett Reim
Lockheed Martin has awarded Terran Orbital a contract to build 36 sat buses for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Transport Layer Beta constellation
Space

By Garrett Reim
The Space Development Agency said the launch manifest included Transport satcoms from Lockheed Martin Space and York Space Systems, and a SpaceX Tracking sat.
Space