The Space Development Agency is rebuilding momentum after resuming launches for Tranche 1 last week. SpaceX launched 21 satellites for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer built by York Space Systems on Thursday after months of a "strategic pause” to correct issues that arose during in-space checkout of the satellites already in orbit. 

SDA Director Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo gave reporters an update on the fixes and what’s next for the PWSA rollout, covered in this week’s lead story. After last week’s launch, York confirmed contact with all 21 satellites. Also in this edition, the SDA issued contracts for the Tranche 3 missile tracking satellites. 

In other news, Poland made a major commitment to Europe’s IRIS² constellation this week, adding six satellites in MEO and six satellites in LEO to function as a Polish constellation within the larger IRIS² architecture. This communications investment is aimed at giving Poland “security and strategic independence.”

Hear from leaders representing the Defense Innovation Unit, U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command, NATO Allied Command Transformation, and German Space Command. Register for live and on-demand insight into commercial technology adoption, cyber-resilient satellite systems, space deterrence, allied cooperation, and defense investment.