SpaceX F9 : SDA T1TR-A : VSFB SLC-4E : NET Q1 2026

[AndrewM]

Discussion thread for the US Space Development Agency’s TBD Tranche 1 Tracking Layer mission (T1TR-A).

SDA LEO Constellations Discussion Thread

Awarded on October 31, 2023 under NSSL Phase 2 Order Year 5 (FY24) with a target launch date of FY26/FY27. This is one of 5 T1TR launches and one of 3 awarded to SpaceX. T1TR consists of 32 satellites - 28 Tracking & 4 missile defense demonstration from L3Harris and Northrop Grumman. In addition, there are 11 T1DES satellites from York that may launch as 1 of the 5 awarded T1DES missions. This launch should include 7 tracking & 1 demonstration satellite from L3Harris or Northrop Grumman. Launch is planned from SLC-4E.

Space Systems Command (SSC) has announced the assignment of 21 launch service missions for the FY24 National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement contract following completion of the NSSL Mission Assignment Board’s assignment process for FY24 launch service awards. This is the fifth, and last, order year in the Phase 2 contract.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) received 11 mission assignments and Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) received 10. These Order Year 5 (OY5) missions are scheduled to launch over the next two to three years and focus on a variety of mission areas.

The 10 missions assigned to Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) are: SDA T1TL-F, SDA T1TR-A, GPS IIIF-1, NROL-77, SDA T1TR-E, GPS III-10, USSF-75, SDA T2TL-A, SDA T2TL-C, and USSF-70.

T1TR-A and T1TR-E are the last two SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer launches. SDA’s Tracking Layer will provide global
indications, warning, tracking, and targeting of advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems.

[AndrewM]

This mission should launch in 2026 now and could be as early as Q1 2026.

Cross-posting from SDA LEO Constellation thread.

The FY26 RDTE PBR shows the 1st 3 T1TL launches are still planned for FY25 which aligns with York in July, Lockheed in August, and Northrop in September. It then states the remaining 3 will occur in FY26. All 4 T1TRK planes are scheduled to launch in FY26.

The 1st T1TR launch is now expected in early 2026. I personally expect the 1st T1TR launch to be the T1DES York satellites in January as either T1TR-A or -E with the other 4 launches being split 2 L3Harris and 2 Northrop Grumman batches.

https://defensescoop.com/2025/09/10/sda-pwsa-tranche-1-launch-campaign-first-data-transport-satellites/ [Sep 10]

The agency expects to begin launching satellites for the Tranche 1 tracking layer sometime in early 2026, Sandhoo said.

[AndrewM]

L3Harris has completed integration on their first batch of satellites which may be on this launch.

L3Harris Ramps Up Production of Next-Gen Missile Tracking Satellites at Expanded Florida Facility [Dec. 10]

Production is underway for two programs for the Space Development Agency (SDA) at the newly expanded L3Harris Satellite Integration and Test facility in Florida. The company has integrated the first eight Tranche 1 Tracking Layer satellites and completed the first Tranche 2 subsystems on schedule.

[AndrewM]

If it is the L3Harris satellites on this mission, here is a picture of them from L3s announcement of the T3TR award.

Space Development Agency Awards L3Harris $843 Million Contract for Tracking Layer Satellites [Dec. 19]

L3Harris Space Vehicles for the SDA Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 programs are in production at the company's Satellite Integration and Test facility in Florida.