SpaceX sent 21 satellites to orbit from California today (Sept. 10), beginning the buildout of an advanced new constellation for the U.S. military.

A Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base today at 10:12 a.m. EDT (1412 GMT; 7:12 a.m. local California time), kicking off the Space Development Agency's (SDA) first "Tranche 1 Transport Layer" (T1TL) mission.

The T1TL network will eventually consist of 126 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), which "will provide global communications access and deliver persistent regional encrypted connectivity in support of warfighter missions around the globe," according to an SDA explainer.

The SDA was established in March 2019, tasked with helping the U.S. military field highly capable and cost-effective space assets on rapid timelines

See Full Page