SDA released a request for information (RFI) to gather input for the Tranche 3 (T3) Tracking Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). The RFI provides an opportunity for industry to review and offer feedback in advance of solicitation posting. The T3 Tracking Layer will accelerate the proliferation of missile defense capability to provide low-latency fire control-quality data, while continuing to provide global, persistent indications, detection, warning, tracking, and identification of conventional and advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems.SDA plans to purchase and deploy approx. 54 – and potentially more – space vehicles (SV) with infrared (IR) sensors in six orbital planes using one or more vendors. SDA may also acquire additional satellites and sensor payloads under this other transaction authority (OTA) agreement to inform requirements and constellation design. The first orbital plane of the T3 Tracking Layer constellation will be launched no later than April 31, 2029, with the launches of subsequent orbital planes expected to follow on one-month intervals. SDA requires each SV and communications system to be interoperable with the SVs and systems developed by all other PWSA performers. Additionally, all SVs must operate in an integrated fashion through a common ground system.Information gathered through this RFI may inform future solicitations. View the full request for information at the link for additional details and submission instructions. Industry feedback is requested by July 29, 2024 at noon ET.
Northrop Grumman Corporation completed its Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for 74 high-speed data transport satellites for the Space Development Agency (SDA), including satellites that integrate advanced technology from an earlier generation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), providing increased capabilities to U.S. Forces. • The 74 satellites include the Tranche 2 Beta and Tranche 2 Alpha configurations. • Tranche 2 Beta satellites incorporate new communications technologies into the PWSA, including S-Band, Ultra High Frequency Satellite Communications and Integrated Broadcast Service, while the Tranche 2 Alpha satellites are a continuation of Northrop Grumman’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites awarded in 2022.
Mynaric, a key supplier of optical communications terminals for satellites destined for the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA), is facing significant production challenges that could impact the agency’s plans to launch its next batch of satellites by year-end.
MUNICH, August 20, 2024 – Mynaric AG (NASDAQ: MYNA; ISIN: US62857X1019) (FRA: M0YN; ISIN: DE000A31C305) (the “Company”) has today resolved an update to full-year 2024 guidance published on June 20, 2024, for its key financial performance metrics: IFRS-15 revenue: the company now expects full-year 2024 IFRS-15 revenue to range between EUR 16.0 million to EUR 24.0 million compared to previous guidance of a range between EUR 50.0 million to EUR 70.0 million. The guidance decrease is due to production delays of CONDOR Mk3 caused by lower than expected production yields and component supplier shortages of key components. Operating loss: the company now expects full-year 2024 operating loss to range between a loss of EUR 55.0 million to EUR 50.0 million compared to previous guidance of a range between a loss of EUR 40.0 million to EUR 30.0 million. The guidance decrease is mainly driven by the lower than expected revenue and higher than expected production costs due to lower yields. Cash-In from Customer Contracts(1): the company now expects full-year 2024 guidance to range between EUR 45.0 million to EUR 50.0 million compared to the previously communicated guidance of a range between EUR 65 million to EUR 100 million. The guidance decrease is mainly driven by lower shipments and delays in the program awards relative to previous expectations. Optical Communications Terminal Backlog(2): the previous company guidance of a range between 800 to 1,000 terminal units in backlog is unchanged. As of August 16, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents on hand of EUR 6.3 million. With the lower than previously expected revenue and cash-in from customers for fiscal year 2024, we will need to pursue additional capital sources to secure our on-going operations and production ramp. At this time, we are evaluating a number of different strategic options to address our near-term capital needs.
Laser communications technology firm Mynaric announced Aug. 26 the immediate dismissal of its CEO Mustafa Veziroglu and the appointment of a chief restructuring officer, following recent reports of production struggles affecting its optical terminals for satellites.
Mynaric said in a statement that Andreas Reif would join the management board as chief restructuring officer (CRO), tasked with reducing costs and addressing cash flow issues while maintaining customer deliveries.
The Space Development Agency selected 19 companies from the space industry to participate in its Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (HALO) program, an effort to accelerate the development of satellite technologies.
Tournear said 40 proposals were received for the HALO program. The following companies were selected: Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Apex Technology, AST Space Mobile, Astro Digital, Capella Space, CesiumAstro, Firefly Aerospace, Geneva Technologies, Impulse Space, Kepler Communications, Kuiper Government Solutions, LeoStella, Momentus Space, Muon Space, NovaWurks, SpaceX, Terran Orbital, Turion Space, York Space Systems.These companies will compete under an indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract model, which allows flexibility in awarding contracts over time without a fixed volume or schedule. They will bid for individual task orders for rapid prototyping and demonstration missions.Each of the 19 vendors will receive an initial $20,000 payment to cover administrative and travel expenses.
“We continuing to expand our design and manufacturing capabilities in Florida and are well positioned to produce buses at a scale that can be rapidly deployed for future orders.”
Nova is offered in base and heavy configuration packages, with the base package fitting in a SpaceX Falcon 9 XL Rideshare envelope. When configured with the full suite of features, Nova can deliver over 2kw OAP to 500kg of payload.
“Owning and operating our satellite constellation enables us to quickly launch new satellites, deploy new capabilities and offer actionable solutions tailored to meet diverse mission needs" said Frank Backes, CEO of Capella Space.
CesiumAstro’s Element satellite is a fully integrated, versatile platform designed for advanced space communication, adaptable to a range of missions, including national security.
Now eligible to support SDA HALO missions, Firefly’s Elytra orbital vehicle can be launched aboard the company’s small-lift Alpha rocket, new Medium Launch Vehicle, or as part of a rideshare with a third-party launch vehicle.
This selection reinforces our commitment to advancing space mobility and developing innovative solutions for national security. We look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of our technology in upcoming HALO projects.
Looking forward to rapidly delivering valuable #smallsat solutions that meet a broad set of mission requirements.
“Our holistic focus on the mission and our end-to-end platform are designed to fulfill the most challenging requirements and we look forward to delivering high-speed, high-performance, and cost-effective solutions to the warfighter.”
The Department of the Air Force has removed Derek Tournear from his position as director of the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency (SDA), SpaceNews has learned. A department spokesperson said Tournear was placed on administrative leave as of Jan. 16 pending the results of an investigation but did not elaborate on the circumstances and declined to provide additional details about the investigation.
The Space Development Agency (SDA) anticipates soliciting proposals from industry for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Tranche 3 Transport Layer Upsilon (T3TLυ). The T3TLυ constellation will consist of four (4) orbital planes with ten (10) T3TLυ SVs in each plane, and the government intends to make two awards of twenty (20) vehicles each.
Estimated Acquisition TimelineDraft Solicitation Release22 Jan 2025Comments (CRM) Received from Industry10 Feb 2025Final Solicitation Release14 Mar 2025Industry One-on-Ones (by request)11-14 Feb 2025Proposal Submission28 Apr 2025Award Announcement25 Jul 2025Award31 Jul 2025
While the Department of the Air Force has not revealed the impetus behind its unusual Jan. 16 announcement that Space Development Agency chief Derek Tournear has been placed on administrative leave, Breaking Defense has learned that the move is related to an ongoing bid protest by Viasat over an recent SDA contract award.
The Space Development Agency (SDA) is issuing this Other Transaction Authority (OT) solicitation for a prototyping effort of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Tranche 3 (T3) Tracking Layer. The T3 Tracking Layer prototyping effort will accelerate the capability to provide global, persistent indications, detection, warning, tracking, and identification of conventional and advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems. The T3 Tracking Layer will also demonstrate a missile defense capability. The T3 Tracking Layer scope includes the procurement and deployment of an anticipated minimum of 54 space vehicles (SVs) with infrared (IR) sensors in six (6) orbital planes. Additional prototyping of satellites and sensor payloads may also occur under this OT in order to inform requirements and constellation design. The fully deployed Tracking Layer is estimated to include more than 100 SVs in low Earth orbit (LEO) across multiple planes.
Estimated Acquisition TimelineDraft Solicitation Release31 Jan 2025Comments (CRM) Received from Industry28 Feb 2025Industry One-on-Ones (by request)3-7 Mar 2025Final Solicitation Release4 Apr 2025Proposal Submission21 May 2025Award Announcement1 Oct 2025Award15 Oct 2025
With these lessons in mind, SDA is altering its strategy for Tranche 1, which will see the launch of approximately 150 satellites beginning in late summer.
This could be a big problem.https://spacenews.com/mynarics-manufacturing-woes-threaten-to-delay-production-of-u-s-military-satellites/QuoteMynaric, a key supplier of optical communications terminals for satellites destined for the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA), is facing significant production challenges that could impact the agency’s plans to launch its next batch of satellites by year-end.[...]
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) revealed during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing that he was told the Department of the Air Force is contemplating canceling procurement of satellites for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Transport Layer Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 programs in favor of SpaceX’s offerings.[...]The possibility of using SpaceX’s Starshield — a militarized version of the company’s commercially successful Starlink internet satellites — as a transport layer for the PWSA raises technical questions. SDA previously indicated that SpaceX satellites would not meet requirements, noting in 2023 that SpaceX declined to bid for SDA contracts because its commercial satellites operate at 550 kilometers in low Earth orbit, below SDA’s required altitude of 1,000 kilometers.[...]A Department of the Air Force spokesperson said in a statement March 27 that “no decisions have been made on Tranche 2 and 3 of the Transport Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.”
The Space Development Agency (SDA) seeks U.S. corporation industry feedback on commercial Payload Processing Facility (PPF) support for SDA spacecraft, satellites, or payloads. The Contractor will provide PPF support to include advance planning, facilities, supplies, commodities, and services necessary for the SV customers and Launch Service Providers (LSPs) to perform prelaunch processing and integration of the SV and LSP hardware. The Contractor shall designate a facility located on or near Kennedy Space Center (KSC)/Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) or Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), or both.
ATLAS Space Operations, Inc (ATLAS) requests Special Temporary Authority (STA) for sixty (60) days or until a fixed license is granted, commencing upon grant for the operation of our satellite earth station in Dededo, Guam (call sign E190037) to communicate with the York Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES) satellite (NTIA-44 control number SPS-27327/1). This request is of a temporary nature to cover the period of time between the anticipated launch date of this point of communication on June 21, 2025 and the submission of an earth station license modification to add this additional point of communication.
York T1DES (Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System)Licensed: NTIA-44 SPS-232/1; RFA USSF2025-406 or AF258333Launch Date: June 21, 2025
