US Space Development Agency launches 21 data transport satellites on SpaceX Falcon 9

Published Jul 16, 11:56 PM UTC

The Space Development Agency (SDA) resumed its Tranche 1 launch campaign on July 16, 2026, sending 21 data transport satellites into low-Earth orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The satellites, built by York Space Systems, are part of a proliferated mesh network designed to provide secure, persistent tactical satellite communication for military users, including missile warning and tracking. The launch came after a nine-month pause due to technical and operational challenges following the first two Tranche 1 missions in fall 2025. SDA Director Gurpartap Sandhoo stated that with this third plane of satellites, the agency can soon deliver real warfighting capability, neutralizing first-mover advantages by providing near-instantaneous data to warfighters globally. The Tranche 1 program ultimately plans 154 data transport and 54 missile tracking satellites. Sandhoo emphasized readiness over artificial timelines, noting potential overlap with Tranche 2 launches starting in fiscal 2027.