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Space

Second Batch of SDA Tranche 1, Transport Layer Satellites Launched

Frank Wolfe

Thursday, October 16th, 2025

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Second Batch of SDA Tranche 1, Transport Layer Satellites Launched

Pictured is a SpaceX Falcon 9 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. just before the Wednesday launch of Tranche 1, Transport Layer satellites (SpaceX Photo)

The second batch of U.S. Space Force Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 1, Transport Layer communications satellites launched on Wednesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the 21 Lockheed Martin [LMT] satellites. Last month, a Falcon 9 launched the first Tranche 1, Transport Layer satellites---21 by York Space Systems--from Vandenberg (Defense Daily, Sept. 10). Space Force and SDA public affairs offices have been on a shoestring since the Oct. 1st federal shutdown, and neither…

Congress

House Republicans Block Measure To Impeach Hegseth

House Republicans on Tuesday evening voted to block an attempt to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In a 211-204 vote, the House moved to refer Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-Ky.) articles […]

Congress

Top House Defense Appropriator Calvert Officially Wins Reelection Bid

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), House Republicans’ top defense appropriator, has officially won his reelection bid. Calvert was running for a redistricted seat against fellow House Republican Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.), […]

Congress

No Path To Defense Reconciliation, Including GOP’s $350 Billion, Coons Says

Top Senate Democrats threw cold water on any GOP plans for a $350 billion fiscal 2027 reconciliation bill, or any defense reconciliation bill, before a new Congress is sworn in […]

Congress

Industry Groups ‘Urge’ Congress To Block Stock Buyback Restriction From Final FY ‘27 NDAA

More than three dozen industry associations on Monday called on congressional defense committee leaders to scrap a provision in the final version of the next National Defense Authorization Act that […]