SDA Archives

SDA seeks industry input on next batch of experimental communications satellites

The agency wants information on different capabilities — from translator satellites for commercial constellations to space-based anti-jamming technology — that could be integrated onto the Transport Layer…

4 days ago By Mikayla Easley

SDA seeks bids for next tranche of satellites to provide global communications

The Space Development Agency is seeking industry bids for the Beta variant of its Tranche 2 transport layer consisting of 72 satellites and related ground support systems.

Apr 11, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

Screenshot of the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 0 launch, April 2, 2023.

Third time’s a charm: SpaceX launches SDA’s first batch of Tranche 0 satellites

After multiple postponements, SpaceX successfully launched 10 of the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 0 satellites on Sunday.

Apr 2, 2023 By Jon Harper

Space Development Agency issues solicitation for new battle management app factory

The forthcoming acquisition will establish software development capabilities to securely and quickly field mission applications for BMC3.

Feb 15, 2023 By Jon Harper

SDA has big plans for a new app factory to aid battle management

The Space Development Agency recently released a draft solicitation for the Battle Management Command, Control, and Communications (BMC3) Application Factory.

Nov 14, 2022 By Jon Harper

York Space Systems lands contract to build T1DES satellites for Pentagon

York Space Systems has been tapped to build a dozen satellites and supporting technologies for the Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System.

Oct 6, 2022 By Jon Harper

Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear is interviewed by DefenseScoop Managing Editor Jon Harper at DefenseTalks, Sept. 15, 2022.

SDA taps Ball Aerospace to build satellites for new experimental testbed

The Other Transaction agreement, worth up to $176 million, is for the development, manufacture, deployment, launch and operation of 10 space vehicles and mission-enabling ground systems.

Oct 4, 2022 By Jon Harper

Pentagon to phase out use of geostationary satellites for missile warning, missile tracking

The plan highlights the DOD’s embrace of proliferated low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite architectures, which officials view as more resilient than the larger, more expensive spacecraft that currently…

Sep 21, 2022 By Jon Harper