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Pentagon’s POET in space wraps orbital data fusion demo

Date: February 10, 2022 | Outlet: Breaking Defense | By: Theresa Hitchens WASHINGTON: A foundational effort to test software for the Space Development Agency’s planned National Defense Space Architecture satellites successfully has wrapped up an initial demonstration of an on-board, automated data fusion capability, agency and industry sources said. On-board, or “edge,” processing — rather than being done at…

How the SDA’s Satellite Swarm Will Track Hypersonic Missiles Where Others Can’t

Date: January 12, 2022 | Outlet: Air Force Magazine | By: Amanda Miller A satellite constellation specially suited to tracking hypersonic missiles could be up and running by 2025. Director of the Space Development Agency Derek M. Tournear laid out the advantages of the Tracking Layer of SDA’s still-envisioned National Security Space Architecture in a…

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“Profound” acquisition method can be used across the board, Space Development Agency director says

Date: January 2, 2022 | Outlet: Government Matters The Space Development Agency (SDA) is called the Defense Department’s constructive disruptor for space acquisition, delivering space-based capabilities to the warfighter quickly. Derek Tournear, director of the Space Development Agency at the Defense Department, said his organization uses the spiral development model, delivering “good enough” capabilities every…

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The SpaceNews Awards 2021: Meet the nine winners

Date: December 6, 2021 | Outlet: SpaceNews | By: SpaceNews Staff SPACE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY When the Pentagon created the Space Development Agency in 2019 to stake out a new satellite architecture for the military, SDA chose as its motto Semper Citius, Latin for “always faster.” In less than three years since its inception, the SDA has launched…

SDA to Provide Virtual Industry Presentation (CUI level) on Tranche 1 Operations and Integration

Requests Due By: December 7, 2021 SDA will deliver a CUI-level virtual industry presentation on Friday, December 10, 2021. This presentation will focus on the anticipated solicitation for the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) Tranche 1 Operations & Integration.  SDA will also offer one-on-one meetings by request with companies intending to propose as prime contractors (up to 18 meetings will be accommodated). Below…

Space Development Agency launches experimental infrared sensor into orbit

Date: August 11, 2021 | Outlet: Defense News | By: Nathan Strout WASHINGTON — The Space Development Agency launched another experimental satellite Aug. 10 as it tries to reduce risk for its first satellites on orbit, set to begin launch in fall 2022. Carried into orbit aboard the Cygnus NG-16 spacecraft during its Commercial Resupply…

Aboard Commercial Rocket, Space Defense Agency Sends Up Satellites for First Time

Date: June 23, 2021 | Outlet: DOD News | By: C. Todd Lopez The Falcon 9 mission will include five SDA satellites. These include a pair of “Mandrake II” satellites; two “Laser Interconnect Networking Communications System,” or LINCS, satellites; and a satellite carrying the SDA’s Prototype On-orbit Experimental Testbed, or POET, experiment. The SDA is…

Space Development Agency Successfully Launches First Missions

Date: June 30, 2021 The Space Development Agency today announced the successful launch of its first two satellite missions, Mandrake II and Laser Interconnect Networking Communications System (LINCS) and the Prototype On-orbit Experimental Testbed (POET) payload, on June 30 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. The launch, supported by SpaceX’s Transporter 2, an all-rideshare…

US Military Places a Bet on LEO for Space Security

Date: June 2021 | Outlet: Via Satellite | By: Vivienne Machi U.S. Defense Department agencies are working with a who’s-who of military contractors, commercial satellite operators, and technology companies to finally demonstrate the feasibility of a proliferated constellation of satellites in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). The concept of using hundreds of small satellites spread out across…

On-Time Delivery Top Priority at Space Development Agency

Date: May 7, 2021 | Outlet: DOD News | By: C. Todd Lopez Cost, performance and delivery drive acquisition across the Defense Department, typically in equal measure. But the Space Development Agency has prioritized delivery above all else in its effort to get satellites into space that will deliver non-line-of-sight targeting to warfighters across the…