A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the Space Development Agency’s first batch of satellites for its Tranche 0 mission to low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., on April 2, 2023.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the Space Development Agency’s first batch of satellites for its Tranche 0 mission to low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., on April 2, 2023. U.S. Space Force / Senior Airman Rocio Romo

SDA readies second batch of satellites for its space data network

The Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture was designed to be the “space backbone” for JADC2.

The Space Development Agency is gearing up to launch its next set of satellites as it works to build a future network of hundreds of military satellites and sensors.

On Thursday, SDA will launch its second batch of satellites into low-Earth orbit to test out concepts in space—called “Tranche 0.” This batch, which will be used just for demonstration purposes, will pave the way for Tranche 1 and 2, which in 2024 will begin delivering operational capabilities for warfighters. 

“We're looking to show that you can build out sort of a proliferated architecture that allows you to do things like tactical data links, beyond-line-of-sight targeting, and advanced missile detection and tracking—so those are sort of the three core things that we're looking to demonstrate on Tranche 0,” Mike Eppolito, the Tranche 0 program director, told reporters Wednesday. 

SDA, one of the Space Force’s acquisition arms, envisions its “Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture” as a layered network of military satellites. It was designed to be the “space backbone” for the Pentagon’s Joint All Domain Command and Control concept, or JADC2, which aims to link every weapon, sensor, and system.

The first 10 Tranche 0 satellites were launched in April: eight built by York Space Systems and two by SpaceX. 

“The one that we are launching tomorrow—there's 13 more that are going on orbit. So we have two SpaceX tracking satellites, one more York transport satellite, and then we have all 10 of the Lockheed Martin satellites that will be part of that launch,” Eppolito said.

The satellites will be launched via SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. SDA also has a third launch planned later this year in partnership with the Missile Defense Agency, Eppolito said. 

Eppolito said he’s “incredibly happy” with the progress they’ve made with the first 10 Tranche 0 satellites currently on orbit.

However, SDA is still waiting for approval to broadcast the Pentagon’s Link 16 datalink from the Tranche 0 satellites. Link 16 is a special data link used to connect military hardware.

“The most notable milestone that we're looking to hit here near term is checking out the Link 16 payload. We have some outstanding policy issues that are holding that up, but from a technical standpoint, we've gotten through all the checkouts leading up until that policy hurdle and as soon as we get approval there, we plan to move forward with that checkout,” Eppolito said.

The agency expects they will obtain the waivers in the “near term” to demonstrate Link 16 on orbit, he said.

“Whenever you're demonstrating new technology, there's always going to be policy hurdles, I will tell you that. Part of SDA is demonstrating this new way of doing business is going to be dragging some of that policy along and making sure that we can get policy changes on a timely basis that satisfies the pace at which we're building these satellites,” he said. 

The agency recently awarded Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin contracts to build satellites for Tranche 2, with combined contracts totaling $1.5 billion. The first Tranche 2 launch is scheduled for 2026. 

“Now we’ve started building out Tranche 1 and procuring Tranche 2, so I think we've shown industry that they can count on SDA to continue procuring these satellites. They're able to invest in the components that are commodities at this point, and we'll get to that fully commoditized satellite that we're looking for,” he said. 

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.