Space Systems Command (SSC) ordered eight National Security Space (NSS) launch services under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement contract today; five to United Launch Alliance (ULA) for GPS III-7, USSF-23, USSF-43, WGS-11+, and USSF-16 using the Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle, and three to Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) for USSF-124, USSF-62, and one SDATranche 1 mission using the Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
The SDA mission is the first of six missions launched by the Space Development Agency for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer. It will be launched onboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the western range into a polar orbit.
These missions are planned to launch over the next two years and focus on a multitude of mission areas.
SDA has awarded three protoftype agreements worth approximately $1.8 billion to establish the foundation for Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL), a mesh network of 126 optically-interconnected space vehicles (SV) that will provide a resilient, low-latency, high-volume data transport communication system, and ready for launch by September 2024.
The first plane of the T1TL constellation will be launched by September 2024 with the launches of subsequent planes following on one month intervals. After launch, each plane has three months to obtain operational orbit and complete a verification on orbit test using the offeror’s facilities. operations centers, including the offeror’s installed NEBULA operations – Vendor Architecture (NOVA) ground system.
Starting in September next year, the goal is to get 161 satellites into orbit in less than a year, Tournear said.
Awarded in February 2022, contracts for Tranche 1 call for satellites ready to launch by September 2024, and Tournear said he intends to stick to that schedule.“We don’t expect to—we will launch Tranche 1 satellites in 2024,” he promised.
“At least” one of those launches will come this calendar year, Tournear said, with the remainder going up at a rate of about one launch every two months. By summer 2025, there should be enough of the satellites in orbit to declare initial operational capability for the PWSA.
https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-24-106831.pdf
T1TL consists of approximately 126 space vehicles—with first launch expected in September 2024—to provide assured,resilient, low-latency data and connectivity worldwide to a full range of warfighter applications
Frank Calvelli, assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, highlighted the issue in recent congressional testimony. “We have proven we can build small satellites quickly,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee’s strategic forces subcommittee. “As we start to deliver PWSA operational ground and 126 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites this fall, adoption and use of Tranche 1 next year will be key.”
September was supposed to be the start of a 10-month streak of regular SDA launches to put the agency’s Tranche 1 satellites — which will provide initial operational capability — in low Earth orbit. Those spacecraft will now likely fly at the end of this year or early next, Tournear said Wednesday at the Defense News Conference.
Tranche 1 should be initiated around the end of this calendar year or a little after.
There was an industry day help for Lane 1 in August. It includes the NRO, SDA, and USSF planned contract awards & launches. https://sam.gov/opp/7111789df59149cd81596402c35e33d3/view
During Tuesday’s virtual Mitchell forum, Tournear also said that SDA plans to launch its first Tranche 1 satellites over 10 months beginning next March or April, about six months behind schedule. Tranche 1 is to feature the first operational military satellites in the SDA Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture effort. Contracts for the Tranche 1, Transport Layer are York Space Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, while L3Harris Technologies is developing missile tracking satellites for the SDA Tranche 1, Tracking Layer.SDA wanted to begin Tranche 1 launches in September, but launch provider delays, vendor problems with building the satellites’ optical communication terminals, and production and National Security Agency certification issues with encryption devices led to the schedule slippage.
Check back for updates as we approach the launch campaign. We’re looking forward to exciting content from Tranche 1 launch at Vandenberg Space Force Base this summer!#SemperCitius #Space #Defense #Satellites
Kongsberg Satellite Services AS (“KSAT”) provides this information pursuant to Section 25.120 of the Commission’s rules 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 York Space Systems (“Satellites”). [...]The Satellites will be launched in two batches, 21 satellites per launch, with the first launch expected to occur no earlier than June 30, 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.
SES-STA-INTR2025-02682 [May 23]QuoteKongsberg 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.
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.
Quote from: StraumliBlight on 05/24/2025 10:50 amSES-STA-INTR2025-02682 [May 23]QuoteKongsberg 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”).
SES-STA-INTR2025-02682 [May 23]QuoteKongsberg 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”).
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”).
Rather, SDA refers to these satellites as fieldable prototypes and is planning to launch its first T1TL satellites in summer 2025. This is a delay from the original planned launch date of September 2024, which program officials attribute to unexpected supply chain challenges.
SDA plans to conduct operational testing in August 2025 for T1TL and in December 2026 for T2TL.
This year, they reported that SDA plans to involve end users in August 2025.
For example, T1TL requires more than 500 optical communications terminals for the constellation’s 126 satellites. However, officials reported that in January 2025, the program had received 20 terminals. Officials stated that this contributed to the delay of the program’s first planned launch of T1TL satellites. SDA said it provided additional funding to the terminal developers to increase production.
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.
