Kongsberg Satellite Services AS (“KSAT”) provides this information pursuant to Section 25.120 of the Commission’s rules1 to supplement its request for a 180-day special temporary authorization (“STA”) for its earth station in Fairbanks, Alaska (“Station”) in order to support launch and early orbit-phase operations (“LEOPs”) of USPWSA-T1TL satellites supplied by Lockheed Martin Corporation (“Satellites”). [...]The Satellites will be launched in two batches, 21 satellites per launch, with the first launch expected to occur no earlier than August 13, 2025. The second launch may also occur within the 180-day STA period. The requested STA is expected to cover LEOPs for the two satellite launches. LEOPs for the Satellites is expected to take 90 to 120 days post-launch. The Satellites will be in a 1,000 km circular non-geostationary orbit, inclined at 81.3 degrees.
Kongsberg Satellite Services AS (“KSAT”) provides this information pursuant to Section 25.120 of the Commission’s rules1 to supplement its request for a 180-day special temporary authorization (“STA”) for its earth station in Fairbanks, Alaska (“Station”) in order to support launch and early orbit-phase operations (“LEOPs”) of USPWSA-T1TL satellites supplied by Northrop Grumman Corporation (“Satellites”). [...]The Satellites will be launched in two batches, 21 satellites per launch, with the first launch expected to occur no earlier than September 8, 2025. The second launch may also occur within the 180-day STA period. The requested STA is expected to cover LEOPs for the two satellite launches. LEOPs for the Satellites is expected to take 90 to 120 days post-launch.The Satellites will be in a 1,000 km circular non-geostationary orbit, inclined at 81.3 degrees.
Colorado-based ExoTerra Resources has supplied York Space Systems with 21 propulsion modules for the Space Development Agency (SDA) Transport Layer....“We understand the importance of scaling propulsion production for SDA and we’re glad we could come in and meet the challenge,” ExoTerra CEO Mike VanWoerkom said in a statement. “Production of the Tranche 2 units is following immediately behind these, with first deliveries expected next month.”
York Space Systems today announced it has successfully completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for Tranche 2 Transport Layer Gamma (T2TL-Gamma) one full month ahead of their Statement of Work requirements.A unique component of the Space Development Agency's (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), T2TL-Gamma includes 10 York-built satellites that will demonstrate support to missions like beyond line of sight targeting. The accelerated milestone highlights York's unmatched production capacity and the maturity of its extensive, fully scaled supply chain.
1 IntroductionThe Space Development Agency (SDA) is issuing this Other Transaction (OT) solicitation to establish the Tranche 2 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T2DES) Europa program. Future SDA constellations will leverage technologies and methods matured on the Europa SVs.1.1 Program ApproachSDA is executing the Europa program using the Hybrid Acquisition of Low-Earth Orbit (HALO) contract vehicle, which is SDA’s acquisition approach to solicit rapid and affordable mission feasibility demonstrations. The Europa solicitation is limited to pre-screened members of the HALO prime contractor pool. This solicitation seeks Other Transaction (OT) prototype order proposals under the existing HALO vehicle to be awarded as fixed price milestones.1.2 Notional Timeline7/1/2025: Solicitation release7/9/2025: Requests for CUI and Secret proposal documentation due from Offerors to SDA7/24/2025: Notification of intent to submit Executive Summary from Offerors to SDA7/25/2025: SDA provides SAFE drop-off links for executive summaries7/28/2025: Executive summaries due from offerors to SDA8/15/2025: Executive summary feedback provided from SDA to Offerors8/27/2025: SDA provides SAFE drop-off links for full proposals8/29/2025: Full proposals due from Offerors to SDA10/14/2025: Notification of award decisions from SDA to Offerors
York has successfully demonstrated a space-to-ground optical laser communications link with the Space Development Agency. A York-built Tranche 0 satellite established a laser link to an SDA optical ground terminal, delivering 1.5M+ frames and validating high-capacity, low-latency connectivity for the warfighter.This milestone validates the performance of York’s optical communications integration in partnership with SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).
• The average cost per T1 Transport Layer satellite is approximately $14 million.[...]Tranche 1 TimelineAugust 2025 -- Begin SV delivery September 2025 -- Begin T1 Launch CampaignMid-2026– On-orbit Test & Checkout of Initial T1 SVsEarly 2027 – Deliver Initial Warfighting Capability, meeting Warfighter Expectations
Sierra Space announced today the successful completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 2 Tracking Layer (T2TRK), affirming technical readiness to begin production of advanced missile tracking satellites for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).Under this contract, Sierra Space will deliver two orbital planes of satellites—18 in total—equipped with state-of-the-art infrared sensors to detect and track ballistic, hypersonic, and next-generation threats. Each constellation plane will host multiple missile warning/tracking IR sensors to include a missile defense sensor, forming a resilient layer of early threat detection for U.S. and allied forces.[...]With the completion of CDR, Sierra Space now moves into the assembly, integration and testing phase for T2TRK, with hardware already arriving at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility Victory Works. The company’s focus on high-rate production enables it to provide our constellation class Horizon spacecraft to our customers with the speed and quality needed to ensure mission success.
While they’re not pulling a sleigh, these nine Tranche 2 Tracking Layer (T2TRK) satellites are built to lead the way, supporting the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
Muon Space today announced it has been awarded a $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Direct to Phase II (D2P2) contract by SpaceWERX to support the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) efforts to enhance missile warning and tracking (MW/MT) capabilities in low Earth orbit.[...]Under this award, Muon will develop a novel variant of its multispectral electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) payload for SDA. Muon’s solution leverages its proven Quickbeam™ scanning payload architecture, originally designed for global thermal detection, and adapts it for high-sensitivity MW/MT applications with enhanced resilience and cost-effectiveness.[...]Key enhancements under this contract include tuning the sensor architecture for improved performance in key spectral bands, optimizing filter design for mission-specific needs. Muon’s scalable XL-class platform can accommodate multiple sensors, enabling near-persistent global coverage at lower cost and risk compared to traditional systems.
The Space Development Agency (SDA) today announced the award of four agreements, with a total value of approximately $3.5 billion, to build 72 Tracking Layer satellites to proliferate missile warning/missile tracking (MW/MT) infrared (IR) sensors along with missile warning, tracking, and defense (MWTD) sensors in support of Tracking Layer Tranche 3 (TRKT3) of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) in low Earth orbit (LEO).These Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements are awarded to teams led by Lockheed Martin of Sunnyvale, California, Rocket Lab USA of Long Beach, California, Northrop Grumman of Redondo Beach, California and L3Harris Technologies of Fort Wayne, Indiana, to each deliver and operate 18 space vehicles (SV) as part of the Tracking Layer constellation for Tranche 3, launching in fiscal year 2029.“The Tracking Layer of Tranche 3, once integrated with the PWSA Transport Layer, will significantly increase the coverage and accuracy needed to close kill chains against advanced adversary threats,” said SDA Acting Director Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo. “The constellation will include a mix of missile warning and missile tracking, with half the constellation’s payloads supporting advanced missile defense missions to pace evolving threats. The addition of these satellites will achieve near-continuous global coverage for missile warning and tracking, along with payloads capable of generating fire control quality tracks for missile defense. This is a prime example of spiral development: the ability to rapidly integrate the next generation of technologies, and to proliferate the most impactful capabilities for increased capacity and lethality.” • Lockheed Martin is being awarded a firm fixed-priced OTA agreement with a total potential value of $1.1 billion to provide 18 MWTD space vehicles (SVs). • Rocket Lab USA is being awarded a firm fixed-priced OTA agreement with a total potential value of $805 million to provide 18 MWTD SVs. • Northrop Grumman is being awarded a firm fixed-priced OTA agreement with a total potential value of $764 million to provide 18 MW/MT SVs. • L3Harris Technologies is being awarded a firm fixed-priced OTA agreement with a total potential value of $843 million to provide 18 MW/MT SVs.The TRKT3, organized across eight orbital planes, builds upon SDA’s previous generations, Tranche 1 and Tranche 2, by expanding and enhancing coverage to provide global, persistent indication, detection, warning, tracking, and identification of conventional and advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems. Each SV is equipped with an IR mission payload, optical communication terminals (OCTs), and Ka-band communications payloads as well as an S-band backup telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) system.Each Tracking Layer SV will be interoperable with all PWSA SVs, for example Transport Layer SVs, and will operate in an integrated fashion through a common ground system.The Tracking Layer will form a global constellation in LEO of IR missile warning and missile tracking satellites that integrate with the Transport Layer’s low-latency mesh communication network to provide mission data directly over tactical data links and enable advanced missile tracking from proliferated LEO. Resilience is built in through proliferation by fielding refreshed capabilities with targeted technological enhancements approximately every two years with each generation of satellites that launch.The Tracking Layer initiates the PWSA’s proliferation of missile defense sensing, or fire control, in support of Homeland Defense and Theater Defense. The PWSA is integrated into the U.S. Space Force’s holistic hybrid missile warning/missile tracking/missile defense architecture to support joint force operations and ensure warfighting success across all domains.
Northrop Grumman is providing both space vehicles and ground systems for the tracking and transport layers of this next-generation constellation.
Lockheed Martin's work on T3 Tracking Layer is augmented by a maturing supply chain that enables the rapid-production timeline, including satellite buses built by Terran Orbital. Tracking Layer space vehicles will be manufactured at the company's SmallSat Processing & Delivery Center, its rapid production facility in Colorado.
The L3Harris Tranche 3 Tracking Layer solution will provide higher resolution infrared sensing, advanced on-orbit data processing and real-time detection algorithms that will enable advanced missile tracking detection.
Each satellite will feature Rocket Lab’s next-generation Phoenix infrared sensor payload, a wide field-of-view (WFOV) solution designed to meet the evolving missile defense needs of national security space. To ensure mission resilience, the satellites will be equipped with Rocket Lab’s advanced StarLite space protection sensors, designed to safeguard the constellation against directed energy threats.
Sierra Space announced today the completion of the first nine satellite structures, Plane 1 of the 18 total satellites Sierra Space is contracted to deliver for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 2 Tracking Layer (T2TRK) program. Achieved three months ahead of schedule, this milestone underscores Sierra Space’s ability to meet key program milestones with efficiency and precision, helping to ensure that the T2TRK program remains on track for delivery and launch readiness. “We stood up our high-rate manufacturing facility, Victory Works, to meet the demanding requirements of our customer,” said Erik Daehler, Senior Vice President of Sierra Space Defense. “To go from a successful Critical Design Review to completing the Plane 1 satellite structures—three months ahead of schedule—is a powerful validation of our investment in scalable infrastructure. Our team is energized as we move into the next phase of Plane 1 development, focusing on assembly, integration, and testing, while also beginning the satellite structure build for Plane 2, the remaining nine satellites of the 18-satellite constellation for SDA.” The next stage currently planned for Plane 1 is a transition to the assembly, integration, and testing (AI&T) phase, during which components, subsystems, and payloads are expected to be integrated and subjected to rigorous testing to verify performance and readiness for deployment. [...]Sierra Space is contracted to deliver two orbital planes of satellites—18 in total—equipped with advanced infrared sensors to detect and track ballistic, hypersonic, and next-generation missile threats.
Today’s growing adversary threats require satellites of all kinds, from exquisite spacecraft to those that are smaller and more rapidly delivered in large numbers. We are using our decades of expertise to transform our assembly line to build satellites at scale and speed.
Missile Warning Satellites: Space Development Agency Should Be More Realistic and Transparent About Risks to Capability Delivery
The Space Development Agency (SDA) is developing space- and ground-based systems to detect and track potential missile threats in low Earth orbit. SDA aims to rapidly deliver capability and frequently update technology by delivering multiple satellites in phases, which it calls tranches, planned for contract award every 2 years. Each tranche needs to be replaced roughly 5 years after launch.However, SDA is at risk of being unable to deliver capability as quickly as planned. For example, SDA is overestimating the technology readiness of some critical elements it plans to use. This includes the spacecraft, which must be modified for the mission. As a result, contractors have performed additional unplanned work, which has added to already delayed schedules.Earth Orbits with Missile Warning SatellitesAdditionally, SDA’s requirements process is not transparent to users. For example, SDA is not sufficiently collaborating with combatant commands, which report having insufficient insight into how SDA defines requirements and when, or whether, SDA will deliver planned capabilities. Consequently, SDA is at risk of delivering satellites that do not meet warfighter needs.SDA reports achieving early milestones, but these achievements do not reflect schedule risks. SDA has continued to award new tranche contracts every 2 years irrespective of satellite performance. SDA relies on contractor schedules for each tranche but has not developed an overall or architecture-level schedule. Using an architecture-level schedule to monitor schedule risks would better position SDA and stakeholders to understand earlier how schedule changes affect SDA’s progress in delivering capabilities.In addition, the Department of Defense (DOD) does not know the life-cycle cost to deliver missile warning and tracking capabilities because it has not created a reliable cost estimate. SDA required limited cost data from contractors for tranches 1 and 2. Requiring more complete and frequent cost data moving forward would enable DOD to develop reliable cost estimates for future tranches.Why GAO Did This StudyDOD is developing large constellations of satellites for missions that include missile warning and tracking. SDA’s effort—known as the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture—plans to have at least 300-500 satellites in low Earth orbit. This constellation is expected to cost nearly $35 billion through fiscal year 2029. Given the design life of the satellites, each one must be replaced about every 5 years.A Senate report contains a provision for GAO to assess DOD’s efforts to develop these capabilities. GAO’s report (1) describes SDA’s efforts to develop and deliver missile warning and tracking capabilities; (2) identifies risks SDA faces delivering these planned capabilities; (3) assesses aspects of SDA’s requirements process; and (4) evaluates the extent to which SDA is meeting schedule milestones and cost estimates.GAO reviewed relevant program, DOD, and contractor documents; assessed SDA’s schedule and cost estimates against best practices; conducted site visits to a ground operations center, the Boulder Ground Innovation Facility, which analyzes satellite data, and seven contractor sites; and interviewed SDA and DOD officials and three combatant commands.
1. The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Space Development Agency conducts and documents a tailored technology readiness assessment for new critical technology elements inserted in each future tranche, starting with tranche 3.2. The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Space Development Agency is following the process reflected in the Warfighter Council charter to collaboratively, with warfighter participants, identify, define, and prioritize requirements, and present regular opportunities for interactive feedback and warfighter response.3. The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Space Development Agency develops a prioritized backlog to maintain traceability between overall mission warning and mission tracking requirements and tranche development efforts. 4. The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Space Development Agency develops and maintains an architecture-level networked schedule for Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture that reflects both government and contractor activities. 5. The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Space Development Agency requires contractors to provide Cost and Software Data Reporting in awarded contracts. 6. The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Space Development Agency develops and establishes reliable, data-driven cost estimates and a process for regularly updating these estimates that supports cost-informed decision-making beginning with tranche 3.
CesiumAstro Inc. today announced it secured $470 million in growth capital, cementing its position as a mission-critical provider of next-generation space and defense communications. [...]The capital will fuel CesiumAstro’s rapid scale-up, including the build-out of a new 270,000-square-foot headquarters, expanded manufacturing capacity, and accelerated deployment of its software-defined, AI-enabled space communications platforms worldwide.[...]“CesiumAstro embodies the kind of enduring innovation we look for—engineering excellence with the discipline to deliver hardware over hype,” said Phillip Sarofim, Founder of Trousdale Ventures. “We’ve backed the company across multiple rounds because this team isn’t chasing headlines—they’re building a forever company. Over the past year alone, CesiumAstro moved from announcing its first fully integrated satellite to securing eight SpaceX rideshare launches, accelerating on-orbit validation. Their momentum and maturity set them apart.”[...]Proceeds will support expanded manufacturing, accelerated AI-enabled communications development, scaled production of Element, the company’s fully integrated LEO satellite, and growth of global technical and program teams.”
Our team has successfully stacked seven of our nine completed Space Development Agency satellite structures for the Tranche 2 Tracking Layer program. These first nine satellite structures, comprising Plane 1 of the 18 total satellites, were completed three months ahead of schedule in our high-rate manufacturing facility, Victory Works—a testament to our scalable infrastructure.
GP Sandhoo, acting director of SDA, said a planned procurement of satellites for the next increment of the PWSA’s data transport layer remains paused, along with the acquisition of a separate “custody layer” designed to maintain continuous tracking of mobile targets on Earth’s surface.[...]Part of the reassessment is driven by the administration’s increased focus on homeland defense, Sandhoo said. “But again, the ability to be able to detect and track these threats, to move the information out to users to do something about it is not going to go away,” he said. “So that will get shaken out at some point, hopefully sometime soon.”The transport layer is being absorbed into a broader Space Force-led space data transport initiative. The Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC) is leading architecture studies to determine how future military satellite communications and data relay capabilities should be structured and integrated across classified and unclassified systems.One option under review would replace future tranches of SDA’s transport satellites with SpaceX’s Starshield spacecraft, a military variant of the company’s commercial Starlink broadband constellation. The potential shift has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, who have argued that replacing SDA’s multi-vendor tranche model with a single-provider solution could weaken competition and reduce industrial base diversity.
The morning’s most striking admission was the demise of the easy satellite bus. The core thesis of the New Space revolution and the SDA’s acquisition strategy relied on the assumption that commercial satellite buses were commoditized goods, ready to be bought off the shelf like dependable pickup trucks. Sandhoo dismantled this belief with brutal transparency regarding the agency’s Tranche 0 demonstration.“The biggest challenge we had with Tranche 0 was the buses—spacecraft buses—which were supposed to be a commodity . . . and none of them were,” Sandhoo admitted.
