SpaceX is launching 21 communications satellites for the Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture constellation aboard a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Thursday at 1:32 p.m. PDT. These satellites form part of the Tranche 1 Transport Layer, designed to provide secure military communications across the U.S. and allied forces. This is the third operational batch from the SDA's larger constellation, which also includes missile-tracking and navigation layers.
The mission uses booster B1103 on its fourth flight, targeting a landing on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You. York Space Systems built this batch, continuing its role as the first manufacturer to complete production for Tranche 1. The full T1TL constellation will eventually contain 126 transport layer satellites alongside 28 tracking layer satellites and four missile defense demonstration spacecraft, managed from operations centers at Grand Forks Air Force Base and Redstone Arsenal. The SDA originally targeted a September 2024 launch window, but payload delays pushed the schedule back by a year.
- Vehicle: Falcon 9 (B1103)
- Payload: Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL-E), 21 satellites
- Site: Vandenberg Space Force Base SLC-4E
- Orbit: low Earth orbit
- Window: 2032
- Customer: Space Development Agency
- Outcome: upcoming