Layered Military Satcom Network Expands With Second Tranche 1 Transport Deployment
Second Plane Adds 21 Spacecraft, Brings Total To 42 On Orbit
York Space Systems has confirmed the health of 21 newly launched satellites that form the second orbital plane of the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer communications network.
“This T1TL deployment further reinforces York’s continued role in enabling the DoD’s vision for a proliferated architecture that ensures tactical assured communications resilience for the warfighter.”
Melanie Preisser, York Space Systems
The spacecraft separated from a dedicated Falcon 9 rocket July 16 from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and checked in with ground controllers within five hours.
The deployment makes York the first Tranche 1 Transport Layer performer to field a second plane of satellites for the program, bringing its total contribution to 42 spacecraft on orbit across the Transport Layer constellation. According to the company, the rapid confirmation of contact across all vehicles is intended to demonstrate a scalable, repeatable production and operations model that U.S. defense officials want to see underpinning proliferated satellite architectures.
“Rapidly confirming health across 21 satellites in a second consecutive T1TL launch is proof of York’s mature high-rate production and disciplined mission operations capabilities at scale,” said Melanie Preisser, executive vice president and general manager of York. “This T1TL deployment further reinforces York’s continued role in enabling the DoD’s vision for a proliferated architecture that ensures tactical assured communications resilience for the warfighter.”
The mission is part of the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture Tranche 1 Transport Layer, designed to provide low-latency, resilient tactical communications links to U.S. and allied forces. York’s satellites rely on a global network of Atlas Space Operations ground stations and the company’s Freedom Ground Software for early orbit checkout and ongoing mission support.
York says the ability to deploy and verify large numbers of satellites in a matter of hours is becoming a core requirement as military and commercial customers move toward distributed constellations.
The company is positioning its space vehicle production line and operations teams to serve national security, civil and commercial programs that favor proliferated networks over a small number of exquisite spacecraft.
“York remains committed to delivering the space-based capabilities that underpin U.S. national security,” Preisser said. “As geopolitical risks grow, so does the warfighter’s need for proliferated space capabilities on orbit, and York is proud to help meet that need.”
With the latest launch, York has now placed 55 spacecraft in orbit over eight missions.
The Tranche 1 Transport Layer is the company’s third constellation and its fifth mission being run from dedicated mission operations centers.
The Transport Layer network will provide a tactical communications backbone for warfighters and adds to a portfolio of York-operated capabilities that includes space situational awareness, air and ground moving target indicators, data transport, custody and targeting missions, along with classified programs.