This new procurement of satellites – generally known as the NExT experimental testbed – replaces a earlier SDA program referred to as T1DES
WASHINGTON — The Space Development Agency is wanting to acquire as many as 10 satellites to host navy payloads for experiments in low Earth orbit.
This new procurement of satellites – generally known as the NExT experimental testbed – replaces a earlier SDA program referred to as T1DES introduced final fall.
The T1DES procurement was for 18 satellites internet hosting industry-developed experimental payloads. The plan was to combine them with the agency’s 126-satellite broadband constellation generally known as the Transport Layer (*10*) 1 projected to launch in 2024. Under the brand new plan, SDA will transfer ahead with the deployment of the Transport Layer and can choose a separate contractor to produce 10 satellites that can host government-developed payloads for expertise experiments.
SDA will maintain an {industry} day briefing June 22 to focus on the NExT procurement with potential contractors. The chosen contractor will develop, manufacture and function the NExT satellites and the bottom techniques for the period of the contract.
The contractor additionally will likely be accountable for procuring industrial rideshare launches for the 10 NExT satellites. SDA desires the experimental payloads deployed between March 2024 and March 2025, in two planes of 4 and one aircraft of two.
The NExT satellites may have optical crosslink communications terminals to allow them to join with the Transport Layer satellites.