The Space Development Agency (SDA) successfully launched its first operational satellites during the Tranche 1 mission along with SpaceX from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Wednesday, September 10.
The launch took place at 7:12 a.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 4 East sending a few subtle sonic booms heard by residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties
SDA is a United States Space Force unit tasked with deploying disruptive space technology, specifically space-based missile tracking using large global satellite constellations made up of industry-procured low-cost satellites, according to the agency’s website.
The space vehicles launched during this mission serve a part of SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a new layered network of satellites in low-Earth orbit and supporting elements that will provide global military tactical communication and missile warning, indication, and tracking capabilities.
“The mesh network of optically-connected satellites is focused on tactical data delivery to the warfighter at ‘the edge,’ tracking and targeting for advanced missile threats, and beyond-line-of-sight targeting for time sensitive or mobile targets,” the agency stated in a press release.
SDA has previously launched 27 satellites as part of “Tranche 0” mission as a proof-of-concept satellite demonstration. The Tranche 1 mission deploying operational is a milestone for the agency.
Wednesday’s launch included 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites to low-Earth orbit on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. A live video of this launch can be seen here.
This was the sixth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched five of SpaceX’s Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
The milestone launch comes on the heels of an agency shakeup. SDA Director Derek Tournear announced Monday he will be stepping down from his position to take the role of Auburn University’s new Director of Space Innovation.
Tournear led the agency for the past six years after it was established in 2019 and was instrumental in growing the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo, SDA Deputy Director, will now serve as Interim Director. Sandhoo joined the agency in July and previously served as Vice President and Chief Architect at Quantum Space and as Director for Emerging Technologies at Northrop Grumman.
“Derek’s vision wasn’t just courageous; it was transformative. His unwavering commitment to innovative space acquisition strategies, coupled with the implementation of spiral development, has revolutionized the speed at which we deliver vital capabilities to the warfighter – a pace that has not been seen in previous space acquisitions,” said Sandhoo in a press release.
In June, SDA successfully launched the first prototype among 12 risk reduction satellites comprising the Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES) constellation from Vandenberg SFB. The prototype demonstrated tactical data delivery to warfighter platforms to support capabilities like targeting, and missile warning and tracking of advanced missile threats.
The launch, which took place on June 23, on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket under the Transporter 14 rideshare mission, carried to orbit SDA’s single risk reduction space vehicle referred to as T1DES Proto or by the York Space Systems’ name, Dragoon.
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GO SPACE X!!!