In this case, the satellites in it will remain vigilant for possible detection of ballistic missiles, and, especially, of hypersonic glide missiles, heading toward the US. On the other hand, the Tracking Layer will operate quite differently. This is how satellites are able to communicate among peers in the same layer (even if they are built by different companies), with satellites in other layers, as well as with defense systems on the surface: land, sea, or even air. In each of these groups of 10, it is believed that seven will be provided with four optical (laser) cross-links, while the remaining three, with two cross-links and two downlinks. These contractors were awarded by the SDA with USD 187.5M, and USD 94M respectively back in 2020. Populating Tranche 0 of this layer, there will be 20 spacecraft - 10 manufactured by Lockheed Martin and another 10, by York Space Systems. In other words, inside this constellation they will provide communications services. This will be the backbone of the mentioned architecture, the PWSA, as Transport Layer designates the group of spacecraft charged with data-relaying activities. As such, it will feature two orbital planes with 14 satellites in each of them, at 950 km (~590 mi) altitude and 89.5 degrees inclination. Tranche 0 represents a technology demonstration through a minimum viable product with enough performance to allow for testing, and exploration of the possibilities it offers. Finally, tranches are populated with satellites by means of a number of launches (or flights), depending on the selected rocket and its cargo capacity. Each of them will have potentially increasing capabilities, as well as a growing number of satellites, and is expected to see launches every two years. Additionally, these layers are subdivided into a number of tranches, or groups. Each of said components is considered a layer, of which the PWSA will consist in seven:Īs it becomes evident from the names, the different layers will carry out specific tasks. It speaks of two components in a defense, low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation, designated the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). What Is Transport & Tracking Layers 0-1?Ī more correct name for the abbreviated version, Transport & Tracking Layers 0-1, is Transport and Tracking Layers, Tranche 0, Flight 1. That is, Flight 1 is tasked with populating one of the two different orbital planes in this tranche for each, both at the same altitude of 950 km (~590 mi) and 89.5 degrees inclination. This is the first of two flights aimed at placing spacecraft into Tranche 0. The vehicle is lifting off from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E), at Vandenberg Space Force Base, in California, United States. The company is using its Falcon 9 rocket in order to orbit 10 Transport Layer satellites, and another four for the Tracking Layer. SpaceX is transporting a group of satellites for the Space Development Agency in the mission Transport & Tracking Layers 0-1. – 149th Falcon 9 flight with a flight-proven booster The weather is currently 90% go for launch ( as of Ap0:12 UTC) These are reused fairings, one of them flying for the 4th time, the other, for the 6th The fairing halves will be recovered from the water ~490 km (~300 mi) downrange by NRC Quest Will they be attempting to recover the fairings? Will they be attempting to recover the first stage?īack on land, on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4), at ~300 m from the launch pad Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E),Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USAĩ50 km (~590 mi) circular low-Earth orbit (LEO) at 89.5° inclination Space Development Agency (SDA), a unit belonging to the United States Space Force (USSF)įalcon 9 Block 5 B1075-2 72.95-day turnaround Transport & Tracking Layers 0-1 (0-1 meaning Tranche 0, Flight 1) Featured image credit: SpaceX Liftoff Time
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