Space Development Agency to resume satellite launches on July 16 after 9-month pause due to software and hardware issues

Published Jul 15, 04:00 PM UTC

The Space Development Agency (SDA) is set to launch 21 Tranche 1 satellites on July 16, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, ending a nine-month pause caused by software and hardware issues on orbit. The satellites are part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a low-Earth-orbit network for military communications and threat detection. SDA Director Gurpartap Sandhoo acknowledged the technical problems but expressed confidence in smoother operations going forward. Meanwhile, a draft version of the National Defense Authorization Act proposes dissolving SDA into the Space Force, raising concerns among agency employees. Government watchdogs, including the Government Accountability Office, have criticized the program's laser-communications technology and schedule transparency. Sandhoo defended the agency's risk-taking approach, comparing it to the Apollo program's concurrent development strategy.