SDA to resume satellite launches on July 16 after 9-month pause to fix on-orbit issues

Published Jul 15, 04:19 PM UTC

The Space Development Agency (SDA) is set to resume its Tranche 1 launch campaign on July 16 after a nine-month pause, launching 21 York Space Systems satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The pause was driven by hardware and software issues discovered after the initial launch of 42 operational satellites in September and October 2025, including thermal reading discrepancies, insufficient ground connectivity, and propulsion problems that prevented some satellites from reaching their intended orbital planes. SDA Director Gurpartap Sandhoo stated that with three satellite planes on orbit, the agency can begin delivering warfighter capability, but emphasized prioritizing smooth satellite checkout over a monthly launch cadence. The agency has worked with contractors York and Lockheed Martin to address the issues. The Government Accountability Office has criticized SDA's rapid development approach, calling for more realistic scheduling and cautioning that speed may compromise capability. Sandhoo defended the strategy, arguing that operational threats require accepting some risk and fixing problems iteratively.