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Space Development Agency Tranche 0 Transport Layer

The Beyond-Line-Of-Sight Targeting And Communications Satellites

Security Now, Not "Soon"

Terran Orbital developed ten satellite buses for Lockheed Martin in support of the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 0 Transport Layer. The Tranche 0 spacecraft are built on Terran Orbital’s Nebula Platform.

The Tranche 0 foundation layer represents the initial step in building an interoperable, connected, secure mesh network. Once in orbit, Tranche 0 will demonstrate Joint All-Domain Operations capabilities by linking nodes together and creating seamless connectivity between all domains.

Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer will provide assured, resilient, low-latency military data and connectivity worldwide to the full range of warfighter platforms. The Transport Layer is exploring technical areas including, but not limited to:

  • Optimized control of modulation techniques (including wide-band or narrow-band operations),
  • Simultaneous transmit and receive technologies,
  • Communications security functions (e.g., frequency hopping),
  • Unique state-of-the-art waveforms,
  • Space implementation of tactical data links,
  • Automated dynamic networking and routing techniques,
  • Commercial cryptographic systems,
  • Blockchain technologies,
  • Multiband phased array antennas, and
  • Multi-level security (MLS).

Nation

USA

Application

Communications, Laser

Operator

Space Development Agency

Configuration

Under 500kg

Launch Date

September 2, 2023

Launch Vehicle

N/A

Mission Length

N/A

Mission Completion

N/A