U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)

Under this next tranche, the agency plans to procure around 54 satellites with infrared sensors from one or more vendors.

The Space Force has awarded contracts to Blue Origin, CACI International, General Atomics and Viasat to develop space laser-communication terminal prototypes.

Kepler Communications says it has used optical inter-satellite links to transfer data between two systems in low-Earth orbit.

The Missile Defense Agency will within a week conduct its first test of its new space-based hypersonic missile tracking system.

“What we really need to focus on right now with the [Space Development Agency] is that [missile]-tracking layer,” a senior Space Force official says.

The U.S. SDA awarded Millennium Space Systems a $413 million contract to build a prototype network of fire-control quality sensing satellites.

The first agreement focuses on a large radio frequency antenna in Norway’s northern territory.

There are individual hybrid satcom terminal programs underway across each of the services.

NRO is building the proliferated architecture across different orbits to provide more resilient imaging and signals intelligence.

CEO Steve Isakowitz speaks about the transformation underway at the only U.S. government-backed R&D center committed exclusively to space enterprise.

Guy Norris talks with CEO Tom Vice about the spinoff-turned-prime’s growth plans as its space defense business surges and its spaceplane prepares for flight.

The Space Development Agency is considering a change to its requirements for optical communications terminal for its data transport satellite constellation.

The U.S. military wants terminals to connect with multiple satellite constellations.

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

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

The agency’s disruptive approach to space acquisition has produced many contracts in a tight timeline, though its biggest tests are yet to come.

Facing a reduction to its expected budget next year, the military cuts back on near-term aircraft procurement.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Recenty comments by industry officials will not change the SDA’s strategy to avoid cost-plus development deals for the Tracking and Transport layers.